Frequently Asked Questions

Is this really free?

Yes. No account, no paywall, no hidden fees. Everything is free.

Where does the data come from?

All data comes from official federal health programs. It's the same data available on Medicare.gov.

How often is the data updated?

Federal hospital quality data is updated periodically. We refresh our data with each new release.

Why isn't my hospital showing up?

Only Medicare-certified hospitals are included. Some private-pay-only facilities, certain specialty hospitals, and very new hospitals may not appear.

What does the star rating mean?

The overall star rating (1–5) is based on a hospital's performance across mortality, safety, readmission, patient experience, and timeliness measures. 5 stars indicates top performance.

What does 'above the national average' mean?

For safety, patient experience, effectiveness, and timeliness, above average is good. For mortality and readmissions, above average means the hospital has higher-than-average rates — which is a concern.

Can I use this for emergencies?

In a life-threatening emergency, call 911 and go to the nearest emergency room. This tool is best used for planned procedures and non-emergency decisions.

Do you store my searches?

No. We don't log, store, or share your search queries.

How do I support the project?

If you find it useful, you can leave a voluntary tip on our support page. It goes directly toward hosting and data costs.