Us vs. Them

The U.S. health system is the most expensive in the world, but comparative analyses consistently show the United States underperforms relative to other countries on most dimensions of performance.

Among the seven nations studied Australia, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States the U.S. ranks last overall, as it did in the 2007, 2006, and 2004 editions of Mirror, Mirror. 

But even when access and equity measures are not considered, the U.S. ranks behind most of the other countries on most measures. With the inclusion of primary care physician survey data in the analysis, it is apparent that the U.S. is lagging in adoption of national policies that promote primary care, quality improvement, and information technology. 

The other six countries spend considerably less on health care per person and as a percent of gross domestic product than does the United States. These findings indicate that, from the perspectives of both physicians and patients, the U.S. health care system could do much better in achieving value for the nation's substantial investment in health.

Quality,  Access,  Efficiency,  Equity, Long, healthy, and productive lives: The U.S. ranks last overall with poor scores on all three indicators of long, healthy, and productive lives.  Just a thought.