Primary care doctors in the United States fall behind their peers in Australia, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom in several areas, according to The Commonwealth Fund 2006 International Health Policy Survey.

You can read about this report in the journal Health Affairs.

Over 6,000 primary care doctors (GPs) were surveyed. US doctors were found to the be least likely to offer services outside their regular practice hours. Systems to detect harmful drug interactions were more comprehensive among most general practices outside the US, with the exception of Canada.

The report found that:

— Percentage of doctors using electronic medical records
98% The Netherlands
92% New Zealand
89% United Kingdom
79% Australia
42% Germany
28% USA
23% Canada

— Doctors who have computerized alerts regarding potentially harmful drug interactions and/or doses
93% The Netherlands
91% United Kingdom
87% New Zealand
80% Australia
40% Germany
23% USA
10% Canada

— Percentage of doctors offering care outside normal office hours
95% The Netherlands
90% New Zealand
87% United Kingdom
81% Australia
76% Germany
47% Canada
40% USA

— Total per capita costs (amount spent per person) 2003
$5,635 USA
$3,003 Canada
$2,996 Germany
$2,976 The Netherlands
$2,876 Australia
$2,231 United Kingdom
$1,886 New Zealand

The USA does not seem to get good value for money. It spends the most, per head, and offers an inferior service, compared to most of the other six countries.

The report found that US primary care physicians are one of the least likely to have comprehensive clinical information systems. They are also one of the least likely to have incentives targeted on quality. US physicians have the highest percentage of patients who find it hard to pay for care.

“On The Front Lines Of Care: Primary Care Doctors’ Office Systems, Experiences, And Views In Seven Countries”
Cathy Schoen, Robin Osborn, Phuong Trang Huynh, Michelle Doty, Jordon Peugh, Kinga Zapert
Health Affairs doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.25.w555
Click here to see article online

Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today