Americans are dissatisfied with the U.S. healthcare system and 82 percent think it should be fundamentally changed or completely rebuilt, according to a new survey released Aug. 7 by the Commonwealth Fund. Nine out of 10 of those surveyed said they felt it was important that the two leading presidential candidates propose reform plans that would improve healthcare quality, ensure that all Americans can afford health care and insurance, and decrease the number of uninsured. One in three adults reported that their physicians had ordered a test that had already been done or recommended unnecessary treatment or care in the past two years. Adults across all income groups reported experiencing inefficient care. And, eight in 10 adults across income groups supported efforts to improve the health system’s performance with respect to access, quality, and cost.
The survey report, Public Views on U.S. Health Care System Organization: A Call for New Directions, found that, in addition to respondents’ overall dissatisfaction with the healthcare system, those surveyed also reported problems with access to health care--73 percent had a difficult time getting timely physicians’ appointments, phone advice, or after-hours care without having to go to the emergency department (ED). Although the uninsured were the most likely to report problems getting timely care without going to the ED, 26 percent of adults with health insurance also said it was difficult to get same-day or next-day appointments when they were sick. The survey of more than 1,000 adults was conducted by Harris Interactive in May 2008. Access the report.
