Minnesota Web site offers visitors latest diabetes data

MINNEAPOLIS Starting today, healthcare consumers can go online to www.mnhealthcare.org to view the latest comparative data about the effectiveness of medical care for diabetes and vascular diseases at more than 345 clinics across Minnesota and in bordering areas of Wisconsin and North Dakota.

“The data shows that where you go for health care matters just as much as what you eat and whether you exercise, especially if you have diabetes or a vascular condition,” said Jim Chase, executive director of MN Community Measurement, the nonprofit organization that publishes the data.

Visitors to the site will find the new data for diabetes and vascular care delivered by clinics in 2007, as well as quality standards and the results of care delivered by medical groups in 2006 in 10 other categories of preventive care, illness care and chronic disease management. Consumers can search for quality ratings by provider group quality measure or geographic area. The Web site makes it easy to spot the top-performing clinics with symbols indicating whether a clinic’s performance was above average, average or below average. For consumers with diabetes, MN Community Measurement offers a special Web site, www.theD5.org.

“We’ve designed our Web sites to serve as buyers’ guides for health care services,” explained Chase. “The quality ratings can help you choose a clinic with a good track record with patients who have concerns like yours, while the information on standards of care can prepare you to talk with your doctor about how to make your care even better. Ultimately, what really matters is the quality of your care.”