The US healthcare system is one of the finest in the world…or is it? Well, yes, it is in terms of technology and innovation, but it has massive weaknesses that make it ineffective and inequitable. Addressing these weaknesses is relevant to attaining the best possible overall healthcare outcome. It’s no secret that US healthcare has some of the worst outcomes and mortality rates, so something must change.
In light of this fact, here are some areas where the system falls short and possible changes that could fit it.
Universal Health Coverage
A glaring problem in the United States healthcare system is that universal health coverage is frankly absent. Most people say universal healthcare will never reach the US, and we think the same. Countries across Europe and the UK offer universal coverage, so why can’t the US? The truth is, they simply couldn’t afford it now.
According to the World Health Organization, universal health coverage means everybody getting access to basic health services and avoiding suffering due to financial compulsion. The US could never.
In this country, millions of people remain uninsured or underinsured, which contributes to late treatments and worse outcomes. Guaranteed affordable healthcare access for all would massively improve public well-being.
Preventive Care
Another weakness is that we focus more on the treatment of diseases than on preventing them. For example, it’s so common for people to get to the stage of type 2 diabetes, costing the healthcare system millions annually; but there’s minimal intervention beforehand other than a few posters in the doctor’s office.
Perhaps if more doctors were hired through a physician recruiting firm such as mascmedical.com, and more staff allocated to prevention rather than cure, the cost and burden on the US healthcare system would be much lower. Though treatment is still essential, priority should go to its prevention. That will, in particular, hold good in the case of chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and obesity, to mention a few. Preventive care should include regular check-ups, screenings, vaccinations, and counseling.
Reducing Administrative Burden
The financial expenses from US healthcare administrative costs are huge, mainly thanks to its reliance on people using healthcare insurance to cover their medical costs.
It got bogged down by the burden of paperwork, insurance claims, and billing processes that are time-consuming and expensive. In one study reported by Annals of Internal Medicine, physicians in the US spent nearly twice the time spent seeing patients doing administrative tasks. How crazy is that?
Administrative streamlining enabled by more efficient technologies and systems could result in billions of dollars in savings annually, but the US healthcare system seems to be taking an eternity to manage it. For instance, electronic health records and integrated healthcare management systems will help reduce duplication and errors. Streamlining the insurance processes and standardizing codes for procedures will further reduce the administrative burden on healthcare providers. Those are things the healthcare system is working on, but it’s taking time.
The US has to follow in the footsteps of Canada and Australia – they’ve made preventive health measures a priority to keep the rates of chronic diseases. While shifting its focus to preventive care, the US can improve results of healthy living, a reduction in hospital admissions, and even long-term savings on medical costs.