BehindTheMedspeak: The 10 safest hospitals in the U.S.

It's almost an oxymoron, the term "safe hospital": hospitals are dangerous places, where bad things can happen with even the very best care, nurses, and doctors.

Note that I put nurses ahead of doctors in order of importance — that's a fact, not an opinion.

But I digress.

Having said all that, should we criticize those who would attempt to bring some clarity to the hospital environment, in terms of specifics and naming names?

I think not.

Eleanor Roosevelt once remarked, "If we wait till we're ready, we'll never get started."

Truer words were never spoke.

Consumer Reports looked at 1,159 U.S. hospitals, then rated them for safety.

Of course such rankings will be imperfect — but isn't it better to at least make a start?

I think it is.

Terrible things happen to patients at the Billings Clinic (Consumer Reports' safest hospital in the country), things that should never ever happen to anyone.

Equally terrible things happen at every hospital in the U.S. — and the world.

Trust me on this.

Having said that, sometimes there is no alternative but to be hospitalized.

Let us hope that this bold first step by Consumer Reports leads to improvement at all hospitals and even better objective assessments of the quality of care.

Here, how Consumer Reports performed its study.

Here, "Your hospital survival guide: The basics."