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Health reform lessons learned from physicians in three nations
R J Blendon1, K Donelan, R Leitman
1Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard School of Public Health.
Health Affairs (Project Hope)
|January 1, 1993
Summary
US physicians see cost as the main patient access barrier. Canadian physicians report service unavailability and wait times, while German physicians report fewer access issues, suggesting potential US healthcare reform insights.
Area of Science:
- Health Policy
- Comparative Health Systems
- Physician Surveys
Background:
- Healthcare access and affordability are critical components of health reform debates.
- Understanding physician perspectives is crucial for evaluating different healthcare systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare practicing physicians' concerns regarding patient access to care across the United States, Canada, and Germany.
- To inform ongoing health reform discussions by highlighting international differences in healthcare system challenges.
Main Methods:
- A survey was conducted among practicing physicians in the United States, Canada, and Germany.
- Physicians were queried about barriers to patient access to care and overall satisfaction.
Main Results:
- U.S. physicians identified affordability as the primary barrier to patient care access.
- Canadian physicians most frequently cited service unavailability and long waiting times.
- German physicians reported fewer access problems compared to Canadian physicians, with satisfaction levels closer to U.S. physicians.
Conclusions:
- Healthcare system designs significantly influence physician-reported barriers to patient access.
- The German healthcare system's structure may offer insights for U.S. health reform with potentially fewer trade-offs regarding access and satisfaction.