http://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/publications_show.htm?doc_id=692682
It's easier to read the charts and whatnot in the article.
This seems to sum it up along with the 101,000 unnecessary deaths:
Efficiency: Average Score 53
* Inappropriate, wasteful, or fragmented care: In 2007, as in 2005, U.S. patients were much more likely—three to four times the benchmark rate—than patients in other countries to report having had duplicate tests or that medical records or test results were not available at the time of their appointment.
* Avoidable hospitalizations: Average rates of hospital readmissions within 30 days remained high, at 18 percent in both 2003 and 2005. Rates in the highest regions were 50 percent higher than in the lowest regions. Rates of hospitalizations for preventable conditions decreased somewhat from 2002–2003 to 2004–2005, but continued to vary two- to fourfold across hospital regions and states.
* Variation in quality and costs: Among Medicare patients treated for heart attacks, hip fractures, or colon cancer, a high proportion of regions with the lowest mortality rates also had lower total costs, indicating that it is possible to save lives and lower costs through more effective, efficient systems. The total costs of caring for patients with chronic disease varied twofold across regions.
* Administrative costs: U.S. health insurance administrative costs as a share of total health spending are 30 percent to 70 percent higher than in countries with mixed private/public insurance systems and three times higher than in countries with the lowest rates.
* Information systems: U.S. primary care physicians' use of electronic medical records (EMRs) increased from 17 percent to 28 percent from 2001 to 2006. Still, the U.S. lags far behind leading countries, where EMRs are now used by nearly all physicians (98%) to improve care.
And the Liberals want the goverment to take over health care, That number would drop like a rock. Goverment cant even buy hammers cheaply and you want them in charge of health care?
If you look at national health care in countries that already have it, you would give national health care a second thought. People dying before ever getting to see a doctor, misdiagnosed by overworked doctors. Lack of medical workers because of low wages.
Now imagine a American National Health Care System, costs tripled, denial of services, long lines, long travel, 5 million hoops to jump through, 12 million forms to fill out, twice because they dont share that information. Sorry we dont care if your doctor did insist on the brand medication, here is a generic thats close enough. Oops we gave you the wrong stuff, oops we dont have any more until next month, oops that item is under recall. Oops we got it from the lowest bidder.
posted by Linecrosser on Jul 18, 2008 at 09:57:03 pm #