U.S. at bottom of health-system ranking

An new report card of healthcare systems ranks the United States last among the 11 industrialized nations studied (Source: “Once again, U.S. has most expensive, least effective health care system in survey,” Washington Post, June 16, 2014). 

The Commonwealth Fund study is the fourth from the organization in the past 10 years, and the United States has ranked at the bottom for health quality each time.  At the same time, the U.S. spends by far the most per capita on health (8,508), far outpacing the second-highest spender Norway ($5,669).

“Although the U.S. spends more on health care than any other country and has the highest proportion of specialist physicians, survey findings indicate that from the patients’ perspective, and based on outcome indicators, the performance of American health care is severely lacking,” the Commonwealth Fund concluded in its analysis.

The United Kingdom, which spends just $3,405 per person on health care, placed first overall in the comparison of 11 nations that include Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Canada, France, Germany and others.

The U.S. fares well in providing preventive care and patient-centered care, according to the report. But among its many deficiencies, according to the report, are a relative shortage of primary care physicians; lack of access to primary care, especially for the poor; a large number of low-income residents who skip needed care, do not get recommended tests or do not fill prescriptions because of cost; high infant mortality; inordinate levels of mortality from conditions that could have been controlled, such as high blood pressure; and lower healthy life expectancy at age 60.