Updated in 2013 to include breast cancer, prostate cancer, and spine procedures, this CHCF-sponsored research shows that practice patterns vary dramatically from place to place.

Hear why variation in clinical care at the end-of-life matters, how patient preferences are often at odds with the care they get, and how new data might support the goals of the Let's Get Healthy California Task Force.

In keeping with CHCF's move to focus on more shoppable conditions and procedures, we are now turning our attention to cancer care.

As more consumers turn to social media to research purchasing decisions, how do sites like Yelp.com compare with traditional sites for hospital quality information?

California is the only state that does not collect physician identifiers on hospital discharge data. Adding this data would give a more complete picture of health care quality.

The issue of regional variation in the delivery of medical care is central to improving health care. CHCF looks at variation research and identifies some areas ripe for further exploration.

San Diego's health care delivery system continues to be defined by hospital systems that are tightly aligned with large medical groups. This report provides a snapshot of the region's health care market.

Although Los Angeles’ diverse economy has provided some resiliency during the economic downturn, hospitals have experienced lower patient care revenues. This report provides a snapshot of the region's health care market.

Access to information about value — the combination of cost and quality — can help health care consumers make better-informed choices among health plans and providers.

The San Francisco Bay Area continues to be defined by its abundant supply of hospital beds and health care practitioners, a strong safety-net system, and large medical groups affiliated with nonprofit hospital systems. This report provides a snapshot of the region's health care market.

As one of the poorest areas in California, Fresno was greatly affected by the economic downturn, which eroded the already low rates of private health coverage. This report provides a snapshot of the region's health care market.

Despite the high volume of hip and knee replacements, data on device efficacy, surgical technique, and patient outcomes are lacking. A statewide registry aims to fill the gaps.

Cesarean delivery rates in California rose by 50% between 1998 and 2008. But new data on health risks, geographic variation, and costs support a movement to curb unnecessary C-sections.

How does California rate on quality of health care for select clinical areas and patient conditions? Despite improvements on some measures, the state struggles to close persistent gaps.

The quality of health care varies depending on where it is delivered. California has experienced improvement in some care delivery settings but still lags in too many others.