CMS has launched its Physician Compare website at http://www.medicare.gov/find-a-doctor

Mark Twain St. Joseph's Hospital posted a video on YouTube September 1st discussing their Avatar International Exceeding Patient Expectations award, what Avatar International is, and how they use information to give high quality patient care.

CMS recently released new information to the hospital compare web site that reports how frequently patients return to a hospital after being discharged.

News story roundup: HHS Issues final ICD-10 code sets; Medicare launches PHR Choice pilot in Arizona and Utah; The Joint Commission puts HCAHPS results on qualitycheck.org;  Rand releases Rand COMPARE (Comprehensive Assessment of Reform Efforts) to help with the evaluation of health policies.

Why Not The Best is a quality and improvement website created by the Commonwealth Fund for healthcare providers to use.

Florida state officials are trying to reduce spending by changing contribution amounts and merging state departments.  Governor Charlie Crist oversaw the signing of contracts with six health insurance firms to offer afforable health coverage to Florida's uninsured.  Florida's emergency care environment is rated by the American College of Emergency Physicians.