From what I have read, many of the unfavorable U.S. vs. other nation comparisons have limited value because the comparison is of a very mixed population group in the U.S. with more uniform populations in other nations. Others note that the broader range of income differences in the United States also contributes to our relatively poor showings.
My personal belief is that many of our problems in healthcare delivery could be reduced if actions were taken to restore healthcare to a profession rather than a business. Many, perhaps most, of the people who decide to be doctors or nurses do so because they have a strong desire to help and to serve, not because they are primarily driven by money. Yet healthcare is increasingly about the money, driven by both government and insurance. At the risk of sounding ludicrously idealistic, I believe we could do wonders if we could only change the wretched mindset that surrounds the practice of medicine today.
Scott
