The Institute of Medicine recently published a 378-page study comparing US health measures against other developed countries. While similar studies have been done in the past, they have been largely focused on older populations. The IOM's recent study focused on younger Americans as well - and the findings are just as bleak.
The study found that "Younger Americans die earlier and live in poorer health than their counterparts in other developed countries, with far higher rates of death from guns, car accidents and drug addiction" (this includes adults <50 years of age). A particularly scary statistic: the rate of firearm homicides was 20 times higher in the U.S. than other countries. Oh, and by the way, we still have the highest rates of infant mortality and teen pregnancy.
The reasons for our poor health statistics can be blamed on a host of factors - both driven by our public health and health care system. It's critically important to understand how both play a role; how it's just as important to reduce fragmentation in healthcare as it is to make sure people have health insurance, as it is to make sure people have access to healthy foods - and not guns.
One other interesting find: "Americans who have not graduated from high school die from diabetes at three times the rate of those with some college." So our education system completely has a part to play....see how it's all coming together? And how it's all falling apart?
When addressing our health problems, we need to look at things holistically, expand our thinking about what can be addressed with potential solutions. For example, should we consider patient education sessions in a bundled payment for cardiac surgery, to promote healthy behaviors? Public Health education in school? Gun trade-in programs? Or we could just move to Japan - and eat sushi with Jiro.
Read more here.
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