The study examined 37 national indicators of health outcomes, access, equity, quality and efficiency, and ranked each with a score out of 100. The United Stated scored an average of 66 -- a failing grade.
"There are many pockets of excellence in health in this country, but overall we are performing far below our national potential," says James Mongan, a physician and chairman of the commission that performed the study.
The report revealed that of all the countries surveyed, the United States has the highest infant mortality rate and the lowest life expectancy for people 60 and older. Nearly one out of every four American adults reported that they had to wait at least six days to receive medical care. Hispanics were found to be much more likely to lack health insurance, and black Americans suffered from higher infant mortality rates, as well as higher rates of death for those with heart disease, diabetes and cancer.
The study also found that the United States still lacks an error reporting system to evaluate medical safety six years after a landmark report on medical errors. The commission's report also found that in the past two years, one-third of patients reported medical mistakes or errors in medications or lab tests.
The report's authors concluded that if performance in certain healthcare areas were improved, the country could save as much as $100 billion annually. Natural health advocates say the U.S. system of healthcare cannot be remedied until focus is shifted from managing disease to preventing disease.
"The U.S. system of 'sick care' is an economic and health disaster," says Mike Adams, author of "Take Back Your Health Power." "The primary reason is because the drugs-and-surgery approach to medicine avoids teaching prevention and instead engages in disease mongering to boost profits for Big Pharma by pushing fictitious diseases like ADHD."
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