There are hundreds of Massachusetts hospitals ranging in size from community and rural hospitals to large urban and teaching hospitals. Many hospitals in Massachusetts are highly ranked in the areas of patient safety, research and specialty care.

When you need to make a decision about medical care, it's helpful to be familiar with the local medical facilities. Some ways to be informed about MA hospitals in your area include:

1. Find a nearby Massachusetts medical center that offers emergency care.

2. Know what hospital to be transported to for a non-life threatening injury.

3. Find out about specialty care, surgery and therapy provided by hospitals in your area.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get Massachusetts hospital information

Begin your search for a hospital with a directory that provides size and rank data for hospitals in your area.

I recommend: Get information from the Joint Commission, an independent, non-profit organization that accredits hospitals and other health care organizations. MedlinePlus, a service of the National Library of Medicine, provides a database of hospitals. Get a list of veterans hospitals from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The Central Massachusetts Emergency Medical Systems Corporation lists trauma centers in Massachusetts by region.

Find hospitals in Massachusetts that offer emergency care

A trauma center provides emergency care for accidents and other traumas 24 hours per day. Trauma centers are ranked either level one, two or three based on their facilities and equipment.

I recommend: Massachusetts General Hospital Boston is a level one trauma center and one of the most highly ranked general hospitals in the United States, according to U.S. News and World Report. Tufts Medical Center has an emergency department that includes a helipad for emergency transports, and is a level one pediatric trauma center.

Get to know the MA hospitals that offer specialty care

Some hospitals are dedicated to a specific group or function, such as pediatric and rehabilitation hospitals. A pediatric hospital provides care for babies and children. Rehabilitation hospitals help a patient recover physical, mental and sensory skills lost because of a disease or injury.

I recommend: Children's Hospital Boston and MassGeneral Hospital for Children are top ranked pediatric hospitals that offer care for a variety of conditions. The Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Network provides programs for amputee and vascular disease, brain and spinal cord injury, stroke and musculoskeletal rehabilitation and also has specialized programs for children and adolescents.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When you are admitted to a hospital in Massachusetts, make sure your medical team is aware of your medical history, especially what medicines you take. Find out if you should continue to take your medicine while in the hospital. Keep a list of medicines you take. When given medication, make sure it's part of your regimen. If it isn't, find out why it's being administered.