Primary care and health system performance: adults' experiences in five countries.
This paper reports on a 2004 survey of primary care experiences among adults in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The survey finds shortfalls in delivery of safe, effective, timely, or patient-centered care, with variations among countries. Delays in lab test results and test errors raise safety concerns. Failures to communicate, to engage patients, or to promote health are widespread. Aside from clinical preventive care, the United States performs poorly on most care dimensions in the study, with notable cost-related access concerns and short-term physician relationships. Contrasts across countries point to the potential to improve performance and to learn from international initiatives.
Schoen
Cathy
C
Health Policy, Research, and Evaluation, Commonwealth Fund, New York City, USA. CS@cmwf.org
Osborn
Robin
R
Huynh
Phuong Trang
PT
Doty
Michelle
M
Davis
Karen
K
Zapert
Kinga
K
Peugh
Jordon
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019049:Developed Countries; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*