@mpflood7 Hi, and I too welcome you to Connect. You joined on my birthday! Sorry, I am a bit late in responding to you, I am not on Connect as much these days as I once was.

I live in southern NH and all of my care was here until I had an undiagnosed problem that went undiagnosed for almost a year and a half. It was finally diagnosed as non-alcoholic cirrhosis. My PCP here recommended me to one hospital but neither my husband nor I liked the doctor with whom we dealt so I researched and chose to go to Mass General in Boston. Now I have most of my care, other than my PCP there, except for my endocrinologist because I am certain I could not do better than him.

I chose MGH after looking at rating sites and learning about which hospitals are good for varying specialties, specifically transplants for me of course. You have had some great responses, and there are some excellent resources out there. I know US News was mentioned. I think their ratings are considered the gold standard for hospital ratings. Most years Mayo is #1 followed by MGH, and Cleveland Clinic in the #2 and #3 spots, with Johns Hopkins up there also, so none of those are too shabby. MGH has been tops in more specialities than any other hospital in the country also so that is also something you might want to check - how a hospital is rated in that discipline. Teaching hospitals tend to be the best I think if you live in an area where one is available to you.

Another resource that many people are not aware of is Medicare hospital ratings. You may not be old enough for Medicare but hospital quality is the same whether you are under or over 65. Looking at my own state, NH, and also Massachusetts, I think they are fairly accurate. I think that Mayo's MICT approach sounds great and tremendously helpful. When I had cirrhosis my symptoms were so varied I would have had no idea what type of doctor to go to. It sounds as if MICT would have been the best choice. I have a problem now also that has me befuddled and I am not sure what type of doctor to see. I think I will ask my transplant team if they have suggestions.

The other possible place to look is for ratings for specific types of conditions. There is a site that rates transplant hospitals, perhaps there are sites that rate other hospital specialities too.

I hope you can find a hospital that you really like and feel in which you feel confident. I think that's key, to feel confident of the doctors affiliated with a hospital. I very recently changed PCPs. I really like my prior PCP from a personal standpoint but I felt like he let me down a couple of times, that I had fallen through the cracks, so I changed. So far I am more confident in my new doctor. I will never have a rapport with her that I had with my prior PCP but my healthcare has to take priority.
JK