meehawl

all that is solid melts into air, all that is holy is profaned

Sick Transit

by ·

One-third of U.S. patients with health problems reported experiencing medical mistakes, medication errors, or inaccurate or delayed lab results—the highest rate of any of the six nations surveyed [Australia, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, UK, USA]. While sicker patients in all countries reported safety risks, poor care coordination, and inadequate chronic care treatment, with no country deemed best or worst overall, the United States stood out for high error rates, inefficient coordination of care, and high out-of-pocket costs resulting in forgone care.

The United States also stands out for its patient cost burdens, with consequences for access. U.S. physician visit rates are already low by OECD standards … Contrasts between the United States and Germany, in particular, indicate that it is possible to organize care and insurance to achieve timely access without queues, while ensuring that care is affordable at the point of service. There are clear opportunities for the United States to learn from other countries’ insurance systems.

Leave a Reply