Comments on: Health Care Mantra

By: Don Pesci

Don Pesci — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:53:49 +0000

Done: http://donpesci.blogspot.com/2009/10/everything-you-were-afraid-to-ask-about.html

Thanks

By: Kristian H

Kristian H — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:44:11 +0000

About 220,000 americans die each year from hospital infections, mis-treatments and prescription drugs.

What is that per capita?
What is that per patient hour/day/visit?

We are what, the 3 rd most populous country in the world? Do you think India and China or the EU as a whole (which is bigger than the U.S.) have fewer deaths?

Taking a raw number out of context tells me nothing.

By: Hank Barnes

Hank Barnes — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 03:13:08 +0000

But, see, Starfield, in JAMA (2000):

About 220,000 americans die each year from hospital infections, mis-treatments and prescription drugs.

Way bigger problem than the silly swine flu.

I would say this about American health care:

1. Emergency Room: Best in the world. If you get hit by a bus, and get to an ER, you have a better shot at surviving than anywhere in the world.

2. High End Surgery: Best in the world. If you need to separate Siamese Twins or need some high-falutin’ neurosurgery or reconstructive plastic surgery, we are no doubt the tops.

3. Diagnostics: Lotta fancy tests –MRIs at the peak.

But, a lot of the other stuff is just bells and whistles and crap.

Good book: “Overtreated: Why too much medicine is making us sicker and poorer.”

–HB