This report summarizes the quality and safety of care delivered to hospitalized patients between 2002 and 2006. The report suggests that hospital performance consistently improved from year to year as measured by adherence to evidence-based treatments for heart attacks, heart failure, and pneumonia, as well as more recent measures of surgical care. While similar improvements were noted in compliance with National Patient Safety Goals, significant room for improvement remains on additional quality measures, and noted variability exists in performance by hospital and by state. The report emphasizes the Joint Commission’s efforts to improve performance measurement and reporting requirements in future years to adequately reflect the organization's goal of improved health outcomes. A past AHRQ WebM&M commentary discussed the unintended consequences of the public reporting of hospital quality.