Americans Getting Mediocre Medical Care

Posted by Kathy Quan Mar 16, 2006

The results startled health officials. While the level of care for the rich, poor, black, white, male, female, insured and uninsured is roughly equivalent, it was also shown to be mediocre at best. In general, patients only received 55% of the top-quality recommended levels of care. Only slight variations in levels of care existed between age, race and socioeconomic groups.

While health officials may be encouraged at the apparent lack of discrimination in the health care delivery, they were discouraged that there is such a huge gap between what care patients deserve and what they actually get.

The types of care included tests, drugs, procedures and other types of treatment and follow-up.

For more information read the report at The New England Journal of Medicine site.