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11/8/09

BusinessWeek: US Healthcare: Doctor Survey: US Health System Lags on Access, Quality - By Cathy Arnst


For the complete report from BusinessWeek click on this link

Another survey out today blows holes in the oft-repeated claim that the U.S. has the best health care in the world. The survey, of 10,000 primary care doctors in 11 wealthy nations, found that American patients are far more likely to lack access to medical treatment because of insurance restrictions or cost, despite the fact that the U.S. spends twice as much per capita on health care as any other developed nation. All told, 58% of U.S. doctors said their patients often have difficulty paying for medications and other medical care, compared with 5% to 37% in the other countries surveyed. In addition, U.S. doctors are less likely than those in the other countries surveyed to offer care outside of regular office hours, and are far, far behind several other nations in the use of electronic health records that could reduce errors.

The survey, conducted by the nonprofit Commonwealth Fund, questioned 10,000 doctors in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Britain and the U.S. between February and July of this year.

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