Quantify your needs before you select a hospital.  Do you need specialized or general care?  Do you want to be treated at a teaching hospital?  How close to home do you need to be?  

Next, take a good look at your medical and hospital coverage.  What hospitals are covered under your plan?  What happens if you choose a hospital that is not preferred by your company?

Research is the next step. Before undergoing a major procedure, research the hospital on the Internet. (can I mention specific sites here?) and seek references from friends, or better yet, employees of the hospital.  Try to answer as many of these questions as possible:

-What is the hospital's accreditation?
-What is the RN-to-patient ratio?
-What are the hospital's mortality rates for your procedure?
-Does the hospital keep patient satisfaction surveys?  Can you see the results?
-Is there a system for resolving patients' complaints?
-Does the hospital offer follow-on care such as at-home nursing?
-Are specialists on staff to resolve post-treatment complications?
-What charges are not covered by your medical insurance?

Lastly, if time permits, tour the hospital.  Is the staff friendly and the parking reasonably priced?  Is the waiting room clean and comfortable?  How about the patient rooms?  

Try to answer as many of these questions as you can for a stress-free hospital stay and a good result.