What is the incremental value of public reporting of cardiac surgery outcomes compared to confidential feedback?
The incremental value of public reporting of cardiac surgery outcomes compared to confidential feedback is controversial. Although public report cards provide transparency and public accountability, it is unclear if they are the only or best way to improve quality. Studies have revealed comparable reductions in mortality rate in states, regions, and countries that used confidential feedback with or without performance improvement initiatives. These findings suggest that the common denominator among successful performance improvement strategies is the implementation of a formal quality assessment and feedback program benchmarked against regional or national results.  