Healthcare in the United States - by Lance

Healthcare - Behind the Numbers

Folks who regularly criticize our healthcare system typically note the high costs and infant mortality rates to claim it's not so good here in the United States.

First, let's address costs.  On the surface it is simple.  Costs are high because it's more expensive.  Our doctors are paid more and hospital administrative costs are higher.  That's a bit of a given considering the U.S. has among the highest per capita income.  That means nurses make more and other staff make more than their counterparts in other nations.

Access to technology and high cost drugs are also higher.  Per capita access to an MRI is twice what it is in Canada per capita.  More hospital beds are available.  The government doesn't restrict access to high cost, life saving drugs.

Now add to that we are one of the fattest nations in the world our rates of utilization are high.  More heart by-pass surgeries, more knee replacements and certainly more prescription drugs taken.

Add it all together and you have the answer.  To simplify it, if your truck uses more gas than my car and your city has higher gas prices your total fuel bill will be higher than mine.

So what's up with infant mortality?  Two factors.  The first is counting, as when is a registered live birth considered a live birth.  Pre-term (less than 28 weeks) births that dont live longer than a few hours are considered stillborn in some cases.  There are many other factors that cause variations in counting.  The fact remains the U.S. has the highest number a miracle babies in the world.

The other factor is maternal health.  Some is education based and some relates to rates of substance abuse.  How many babies are born with fetal alcohol syndrome or addicted to drugs.  Statistics are hard to find but when a nation with 5% of the world's population consumes over 75% of the opiates we know it is a problem.

So, do you want doctors paid at the same level as teachers, and nurses the same as your local store clerks?  Do you want to drive an hour away and wait a month for your MRI.  Or heaven forbid stay in a hospital ward instead of a private or semi-private room.

We will get what we are willing to pay for in the long run.  In the meantime, get some exercise, eat right, don't fill your body with poison, and you wont need to pay the bills.