Women get very different care depending on what hospital they go to, according to a new study from HealthGrades that looked at treatment for heart disease and for women giving birth.

The study found, for example, that women who give birth at top hospitals have 76 percent fewer complications for Caesarean sections and 51 percent fewer for vaginal births than those who go to the poorest hospitals.

The top facilities also had a 40 percent lower risk of death for women with heart problems than the worst hospital. The risk was 22 percent lower than the average hospital.

The maternity ratings were based on studies of 12.5 million births and 1 million heart patients in 17 states. Researchers said that women make up nearly 60 percent of all hospital admissions.

The study also found that, overall, the risk of death from heart disease for women dropped almost 15 percent from 2004 to 2006.

"The impact of women's health on the U.S. health care system is tremendous," said HealthGrade's Dr. Samantha Collier. "It is imperative, based on the huge differences in the quality identified in our study, that women research their local hospital's clinical outcomes before choosing where to receive their care."

HealthGrades is designed to help people compare doctors and hospitals.