U.S. 'Not Getting What We Pay For' Health-Care System Inefficient, Wasteful

U.S. 'Not Getting What We Pay For' Health-Care System Inefficient, Wasteful

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Talk to the chief executives of America's preeminent health-care institutions, and you might be surprised by what you hear: When it comes to medical care, the United States isn't getting its money's worth. Not even close.

"We're not getting what we pay for," says Denis Cortese, president and chief executive of the Mayo Clinic. "It's just that simple."

"Our health-care system is fraught with waste," says Gary Kaplan, chairman of Seattle's cutting-edge Virginia Mason Medical Center. As much as half of the $2.3 trillion spent today does nothing to improve health, he says.

Not only is American health care inefficient and wasteful, says Kaiser Permanente chief executive George Halvorson, much of it is dangerous.

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Consistently the VA system is considered among the best in the country.

The CEO of our local (Roanoke Va) Carilon health care says that the system is broken.

We used to have the Public Health System but that has been pretty much dismantled.

I have always thought the best idea would be to require some sort of public service between 18 and 21... kind of like universal military service some countries have but extend to include things like a civilian conservation corp and the peace corp for inner cities etc. and after the service is completed give them the same system us vets have BUT FULLY FUND IT.

I mean its already in place.

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