As health care costs keep rising, there is a burgeoning movement in the industry to establish quality benchmarks that allow consumers to determine if their money is being well spent. But there is no one source of hospital data or one piece of information that will definitely determine quality, the consumer needs to consult a myriad of sources and then weigh the information.

One source to tap for information on hospital quality is your primary care physician. Ask your doctor where he or she would go for the procedure and why. Also, talk to your insurer. Many offer report cards on local hospitals. Don’t forget to discuss reimbursement rates with your insurer because they may vary depending on which hospital you choose.

Find out if the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations accredits the hospital you are considering. This nonprofit examines and reports on different facets of management and care at hospitals and other institution. The reports are available on the web site, www.jcaho.org.

Ask how often the procedure you need has been performed at the hospital and compare it with established minimums and other hospitals in the area.

On the web site, www.healthgrades.com, you can check out the complication or mortality rate of 26 different diagnoses or procedures.

You should also learn as much as you can about the procedure you are having so you can have informed discussion s with the doctor who will be caring for you as well as hospital administrators. Good sources of information on diseases and conditions are hospital or advocacy organization web sites such as www.mayoclinic.org.