Web Site Helps Patients Prepare for Hos...( Note to Reporters/Editors: Next w...),Health

Note to Reporters/Editors: Next week, May 11-17, is National Hospital Week. Texas Gov. Rick Perry has issued a proclamation honoring Texas hospitals.

AUSTIN, Texas, May 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As hospitals across the country prepare to celebrate National Hospital Week May 11-17, the Texas Hospital Association is emphasizing patient-focused resources available through its Web site, including a new section on advance directives. Consumers can visit http://www.texashospitalsonline.info to get answers to questions such as: What do I look for when choosing a hospital? Why is it important to put my medical wishes in writing? How do I estimate my out-of-pocket costs?

Patients have a myriad of questions when faced with a hospital stay, and THA's online resource can provide many of the answers. "More than ever before, consumers are taking an active role in managing their own health care, but the wealth of information available on the Internet can be overwhelming and confusing," noted Dan Stultz, M.D., FACP, FACHE, president/CEO of Texas Hospital Association.

THA's consumer-focused Web site attempts to cut through the clutter by providing carefully screened resources and access to tools that help Texas patients make better informed choices about their health care. Information on hospital costs/quality and advance directives is especially popular.

Visitors to THA's site can view and compare charge data on inpatient hospital services provided at Texas hospitals through Texas PricePoint. This helpful resource includes charge data on the most common inpatient services, links to quality data, and general and contact information on all Texas hospitals. Through basic and advanced queries, users can request information on a single hospital or from several to allow comparisons. Once a hospital's information is displayed, users have the option of clicking on a link to the ho
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