Americans are extremely dissatisfied with their health care despite the fact that health care expenditure surpasses that of most other industrialized nations. These were the results of a multi-national survey that was concluded on Tuesday.
In 2004 the survey revealed that United States had spent $6,280 per capital on medical care almost twice as much as other industrialized countries.US patients reported more diagnostic errors, improper coordination of care and high costs that impede obtaining proper care as compared to similar patients of other nations. In addition low-income Americans reported more cases of skipping required medical tests and treatments because of high costs.
In comparison to their counterparts in other industrialized nations Americans were also more likely to have spent over $1ooo from their own pockets for their medical expenses. Care for patients suffering from chronic diseases was also glaringly inadequate.
Some positive parts of the American health care system was that their patients benefited as much or even more from preventive medical services such as blood pressure screening and Pap smear tests than health care systems of other countries.
Rising insurance costs for patients and employers are also pressurizing policy makers for reform.
However in an effort to improve efficiency the Bush administration has stepped up efforts to promote the use of electronic medical records and to link payments to doctors according to quality of care provided by them.
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