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America Spends More For Mediocre Health Care Than All Other Nations

Posted By Dr. Mercola | October 03 2006 | 3,671 views

A new study, the National Scorecard on U.S. Health System Performance, shows that the U.S. health care system is fragmented, wasteful and in some cases dangerous, and is particularly poor at serving the very young and the very old.

Despite the fact that the United States spends more on health care than any other country, it has the highest infant mortality rate among nearly two dozen industrialized nations, and the lowest life expectancy after 60.

The study, released by the Commonwealth Fund's Commission on a High Performance Health System, assigned scores to 37 indicators of health outcomes, quality, access, equity and efficiency. On average, the United States scored 66 out of a possible 100.

Improvements in the health care system could lead to 150,000 lives and $100 billion saved annually. Currently, one-third of patients report a medical, medication or lab test mistake, and a quarter of U.S. adults have had to wait at least six days to receive care when they needed medical attention.

 

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

If you're wondering why medical mistakes like the one I recently described are being reported with greater frequency, you'll want to review this first-ever National Scorecard on U.S. Health System Performance.

Among the benchmarks cited in the report with the correspondingly low U.S. scores:

  • Infant mortality = 39 out of 100
  • Needless emergency room visits that could've been treated in an office visit = 23 out of 100
  • Adults receiving recommended screenings and preventative care = 61 out of 100

The United States spends 16 percent of its gross domestic product on health care, or $2 trillion, every year. Since the CDC and FDA are focusing on crazy treatments and toxic drugs, I can't imagine these scores improving any time soon.

This is why I lost my faith in the modern health care system many years ago.

It is all too obvious that it is focused on the "business of unnecessary medicine" rather than true healing. The belief of quantity over quality is a powerful contributor to the downfall of the traditional medical community. One of the most important and popular articles I've featured on my Web site -- the Modern Health Care System is the Leading Cause of Death series -- illustrates this point very well.

By the end of the decade, health care costs are expected to rise to $3 TRILLION. This is largely due to the costs of drugs and surgery and a reliance on a medical system that does not treat the cause of disease.

The only way to improve the state of health care in America:

You simply must take better responsibility for your own health, address the true cause of your disease and move away from needless drugs and surgical procedures that merely mask your problem.

Fortunately, you have access to many free tools on my site to begin your journey toward optimal health.

Care, not treatment, is the answer.

Drugs, surgery and hospitals are rarely the answer to chronic health problems. Following a healthy diet, as outlined in my health plan, exercise, and a healthy lifestyle are the basic pillars of optimal health. Effective interventions for the underlying emotional wounding behind most chronic illness are also key.


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* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult your physician before using this product.

Disclaimer: The entire contents of this website are based upon the opinions of Dr. Mercola, unless otherwise noted. Individual articles are based upon the opinions of the respective author, who retains copyright as marked. The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of Dr. Mercola and his community. Dr. Mercola encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult your physician before using this product.

Disclaimer: The entire contents of this website are based upon the opinions of Dr. Mercola, unless otherwise noted. Individual articles are based upon the opinions of the respective author, who retains copyright as marked. The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of Dr. Mercola and his community. Dr. Mercola encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional.

© Copyright 1997-2012 Dr. Joseph Mercola. All Rights Reserved.

 

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