The Georgia Department of Community Health has awarded a $5.2 million contract to the IBM Corp. to build a Web site for state consumers of health care that will help people make more informed decisions.

The Web site, to be operational in October, will provide a "one-stop" resource, offering information about hospitals and where various procedures are performed, said Dena Brummer, a spokeswoman for the DCH.

A consumer considering elective knee surgery, for example, would be able to find information about the arthritis that causes pain, as well as treatment options, from medical experts, she said this week.

"Information about the two hospitals that have orthopedic surgeons that perform knee surgery in her community" will be on the site, and the patient will be able to confirm that the hospital accepts his or her insurance, Brummer said.

The Web site will permit the comparison of the two hospitals in terms of cost, quality, customer service scores from other patients, and other related information, she said.

"Unlike other health information Web sites, our site will not market facilities, specific providers or industry," Brummer said. "Our only goal is to empower Georgians with information to guide their health decisions."

The site also will offer "the full spectrum of care, such as disease and condition information on local providers, including quality rankings, services, hours of services and even directions," she said.

Most disease management and wellness information will be provided by the Mayo Clinic, she said. The site also will give information on recommended frequencies for checkups and exams, as well as eating and exercise tips.

Dr. Rhonda Medows, the commissioner of DCH, said the unbiased health information will help consumers make smarter choices.