Survey: 82 percent favor complete overhaul of health care system

A new Harris Interactive survey commissioned by the Commonwealth Fund has found that 82 percent of Americans think the U.S. health care system is in such poor shape that it needs to be completely overhauled (Source: “Most Americans Want Health Care Reform,” Washington Post/ HealthDay News, Aug. 7, 2008).

The survey results included:
•    47 percent said their health care was poorly coordinated, including one in three who said their doctors ordered tests that had already been done or recommended unnecessary treatment
•    Nine out of 10 said the presidential candidates should propose health reforms aimed at improving quality of care, affordability and coverage
•    Nine of 10 people said it was important that they have one place or one doctor responsible for their primary care and coordination of all their care
•    Nine of 10 wanted easier access to their medical records
•    percent said they had difficulty getting a doctor appointment, phone advice, or after-hours care without going to the emergency department
•    26 percent of insured patients said it was hard to get same- or next-day appointments when they were sick, and 39 percent said it was difficult to reach their doctors by phone when they needed them