Hospital Star Ratings Explained
What do hospital star ratings mean and how are they calculated?
Hospital star ratings — most notably the CMS Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating in the USA and CQC inspection ratings in the UK — summarise dozens of clinical performance measures into a single score. They help patients compare facilities, but understanding what the rating measures is essential to interpreting it correctly.
USA: CMS Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services rates eligible hospitals 1–5 stars on Medicare Care Compare. The rating is derived from five measure groups:
- Mortality (22%): Death rates for common conditions vs national average
- Safety of Care (22%): Hospital-acquired infections and complications
- Readmission (22%): Rate of patients readmitted within 30 days
- Patient Experience (22%): HCAHPS survey scores — communication, responsiveness, cleanliness
- Timely & Effective Care (12%): Time to treatment, process measures
UK: CQC Inspection Ratings
The Care Quality Commission rates NHS trusts and independent providers across five domains: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive, and Well-led. Overall ratings are: Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, or Inadequate. Ratings are assigned following on-site inspections.
How to Use Ratings Wisely
- A 3-star hospital may excel at the specific procedure you need — look at procedure-specific data, not just the overall score.
- Small hospitals may have fewer reportable measures, making comparisons less reliable.
- Ratings lag real-world changes — a recently improved hospital may still carry an older low rating.
Frequently Asked Questions
MedVerify Editorial Team
This guide is reviewed for factual accuracy by our editorial team. Contact information cited is verified against primary sources. This is not a substitute for professional medical advice.
Not Medical Advice: Information in this guide is for educational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making medical decisions. Full disclaimer →
Find a Hospital Near You
Search verified hospital contacts, direct phone numbers, and addresses across 8 countries.