Guides
Quick lists for common needs, built from verified official information.
How to choose care
All how-to guidesHow to choose a hospitalWhat Medicare star ratings, patient surveys, infections and readmissions on our hospital pages mean, what to ask, who pays, and how to complain about a hospital.
How to choose a nursing homeWhat Medicare star ratings, inspections, staffing and fines on our nursing home pages mean, what to ask on a visit, warning signs, who pays and how to complain.
How to choose hospice careWhat hospice is, what the family survey ratings and quality measures on our hospice pages mean, what to ask, what Medicare covers and how to complain.
How to choose a home health agencyWhat the Medicare star ratings and patient survey on our home health pages mean, what to ask, who pays, and how to complain about a home health agency.
How to choose a dialysis centerWhat the Medicare star rating and facility facts on our dialysis pages mean, questions to ask, who pays, and how to complain about a dialysis center.
How to choose assisted livingWhat the state licence records on our assisted living pages mean, what to ask on a visit, warning signs, who pays and how to complain about an assisted living home.
How to choose a community health centerWhat community health centers are, what the HRSA data on our pages means, sliding fees and who pays, what to ask, and where to raise a concern.
How to choose a doctorWhat the Medicare data on our doctor pages means (NPI, specialty, hospitals, Medicare assignment), how to check a doctor, what to ask, who pays and where to complain.
How to choose a walk-in or rural health clinicWhat urgent care centers and rural health clinics are, what the facts on our clinic pages mean, what to ask, who pays and where to complain.
How to choose a pharmacyWhat the pharmacy facts on our pages mean, generic and brand-name medicines, ways to save on prescriptions, what to ask, and where to report a problem with a pharmacy or a medicine.
How to use hospital pricesWhat hospital charges, cash prices and insurance rates in the prices section of our hospital pages mean, how to get an estimate, and your rights about medical bills.
What Medicare star ratings meanHow Medicare rates hospitals, nursing homes, home health agencies, hospice and dialysis centers with 1 to 5 stars, what “not rated” means, and how to use the stars.
What Medicare pays for: hospital, nursing home, hospice, home health and dialysisThe basic Original Medicare rules for a hospital stay, skilled nursing facility care, hospice, home health care and dialysis: who qualifies, what is covered, what is not, and how to appeal.
How to pay for a nursing home or assisted livingWho pays for long-term care in a nursing home, in assisted living or at home: what Medicare does not pay, Medicaid, long-term care insurance, veterans’ benefits and paying yourself.
Leaving the hospital: discharge planning and your rightsWhat to ask before you leave the hospital, how discharge planning works, inpatient or observation status (the MOON notice), and how to appeal a Medicare discharge you think is too soon.
Nationwide, by need
ERs near meThe closest hospital emergency rooms to you or to a ZIP code
ER wait timesHow long patients spend in each emergency room, by state and city (Medicare data)
Best-rated by cityHospitals, nursing homes, hospice, home health and dialysis ranked by Medicare star ratings
Trauma centersTrauma centers in the United States, by state1,194 hospitals
Stroke centersStroke centers in the United States, by state1,287 hospitals
Children's hospitalsChildren's hospitals in the United States, by state96 hospitals
Maternity & childbirthBirthing-friendly hospitals in the United States, by state2,235 hospitals
Mental health hospitalsPsychiatric hospitals in the United States, by state628 hospitals
Rehabilitation hospitalsRehabilitation and long-term acute care hospitals in the United States, by state717 hospitals
ER or urgent care?When to call 911, go to the ER or use urgent care
City guides
All 100 city guidesEmergency rooms, urgent care, pharmacies, low-cost clinics, hospitals compared, specialists and long-term care in the 100 U.S. cities with the most hospitals, from official data.
Chicago, IL (35)San Antonio, TX (26)Oklahoma City, OK (25)Phoenix, AZ (25)Dallas, TX (23)Philadelphia, PA (23)Las Vegas, NV (23)Los Angeles, CA (22)Austin, TX (19)Indianapolis, IN (19)Baltimore, MD (17)Fort Worth, TX (17)Tulsa, OK (17)Baton Rouge, LA (17)San Juan, PR (16)New York, NY (16)Memphis, TN (16)Cincinnati, OH (15)Jacksonville, FL (15)Tucson, AZ (14)All city guides →
Greater Houston, by need
ERs open 24/7Emergency rooms open 24/7 in the Houston area60 hospitals
All hospital ERsAll hospital emergency rooms in the Houston area66 hospitals
Trauma centersTrauma centers in the Houston area, by level28 hospitals
Stroke centersStroke centers in the Houston area33 hospitals
Children's hospitalsChildren's hospitals in the Houston area49 hospitals
Maternity & childbirthHospitals for maternity and childbirth in the Houston area35 hospitals
Mental health hospitalsPsychiatric and mental health hospitals in the Houston area36 hospitals
Rehabilitation hospitalsRehabilitation hospitals in the Houston area24 hospitals
Largest hospitalsThe largest hospitals in the Houston area by licensed beds25 hospitals
ER or urgent care?When to call 911, go to the ER or use urgent care