The American healthcare system is complex, costly and inefficient since it is unable to cope with data overload, reveals a report by the Institute of Medicine.
Mark D. Smith, the committee chair, sums the report up, in saying, “The threats to Americans’ health and economic security are clear and compelling, and it’s time to get all hands on deck. Our health care system lags in its ability to adapt, affordably meet patients’ needs, and consistently achieve better outcomes. But we have the know-how and technology to make substantial improvement on costs and quality. Our report offers the vision and road map to create a learning health care system that will provide higher quality and greater value.”
One of the highlights of the report was the estimate that almost $750 billion was spent on fraud, administration costs and unnecessary services among other problems that exist in the health care system.
However, the fallout of these deficiencies does not just affect the financial bottom line but also result in patients suffering needlessly. A study in 2005 concurs with this finding in stating that almost 75000 deaths could have been averted if every state had performed at the quality and efficiency levels of the best performing state at that time.
It must also be noted that despite the current pitfalls, the American healthcare system has put into place the necessary tools and know-how so as to fix these problems in the future and which will improve the quality and efficiency of their services for patients going forward.
The report also says that the use of mobile technology and electronic health records as well as the right use of data can improve the system substantially.