In July 2012, Wisconsin health officials told 16 types of healthcare facilities that their inspection reports soon would be posted online. Because the Wisconsin Hospital Association complained to the Department of Health Services, hospitals were exempt from the initiative, according to a story on the Wisconsin State Journal website.
In January 2013, the state began posting the reports for 15 types of facilities, from nursing homes and assisted living facilities to hospices and rural health clinics, at go.madison.com/inspection. People can request specific hospital inspection reports under open records laws.
Posting hospital inspection reports would “mislead consumers, potentially affecting health care decisions in an unsupported way,” Steve Brenton, president of the association, wrote in a letter to the state.
According to Claire Smith, spokeswoman for the state health department, the issue “is still under evaluation."
Read the article.