I watched my M-in-L treated for a stroke in a Florida hospital, and compared to hospitals I'd visited around here in Cincinnati , I thought I was in Mexico.( My wife went to Wal Mart and bought them some fans as the AC wasn't working in the facility FOR DAYS) But then I spent the only two hours I've ever spent as a patient, in a major hospital up here for a simple hernia repair ,and wound up with an abcess , worse than the damn hernia , from a staff infection. This story rings true to my ( thank the Lord) limited real experience in hospitals.
Yes --- the patient or the family has to really keep an eye on how things are, how competent the staff seems because some are run well and others are not. Some can look good on the surface but behind the scenes are not.
If your doctor is very good and experienced and your insurance gives you a choice, the doctor usually has a pretty good idea which hospitals are better.