U.S. Healthcare System Performance Reported by Commonwealth
The Commonwealth Fund released results from the 2008 National Scorecard on U.S. Health System Performance (pdf). This new effort updates results previously issued for 2006, no improvements were noted during this two year interim period.
This report is the most comprehensive effort to assess and monitor healthcare-associated outcomes. In addition, the report considers access, equity, efficiency, and quality of the U.S. market. Slight improvements were noted only in two of the broad categories: equity and efficiency.
Trends for all of these categories, as well as the multitude of dimensions related to each, are described in the 2008 report. Individual indicators are further delineated. Thirty-seven core indicators are described in the report. The average score for all of these was a 65 out of a possible total of 100. In 2006, alternatively, the average overall score was 67.
The report notes that there have been few or no improvements to the efficiency of the healthcare system. Access to healthcare has declined dramatically in the past two years. The report also indicates that there are disparities in the system across the country with respect to quality and safety and other healthcare outcomes.
The report also provides insights which may be particularly relevant in this election year, comparing the U.S. healthcare system to that of other industrialized nations. Those comparisons are utilized to create benchmarks of success. For example, the U.S. spends, on average, twice as much on healthcare per individual compared to most other western nations.
The overall findings published in the report indicate that the U.S. health system is struggling. Notably, the system fails to leverage the existing resources intended to support the delivery of healthcare. If these were fully exploited, the system could perform at a significantly higher level. The report notes missed opportunities with respect to prevention programs, as well as extending the access to care.
July 21, 2008 Related topics: Trends, Partnerships & Consortia, Quality, Safety, Errors