RT Journal
A1 Schneider E, Epstein A
T1 PUblic performance reports for cardiac surgery—reply
JF JAMA
JO JAMA
YR 1999
FD January 13
VO 281
IS 2
SP 135
OP 135
DO 10-1001/pubs.JAMA-ISSN-0098-7484-281-2-jac80019
UL http://dx.doi.org/10-1001/pubs.JAMA-ISSN-0098-7484-281-2-jac80019
AB 
Our study focused on patients' use of the Pennsylvania Consumer
Guide to Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery because it has been
among the best of pioneering efforts that report outcomes in a
consumer-friendly format. Federal and state policymakers have embraced
the notion that "report cards" can drive individual patient
decisions on the theory that improved decisions will drive improvements
in health care quality. While this concept has intuitive appeal, our
study found that individual patients were not yet prepared to play this
role.