We all have that one parent that refuses to see the doctor. They could be bleeding, have a broken limb or their back has gone out, but they claim they will be fine without medical attention. Sometimes, urgent care is necessary, and concerned family members should convince their loved one to see a doctor as that is the healthy thing to do.
Health care is not always healthy, though; not in an economic sense and not regarding the quality of care. You might be surprised by some interesting facts about health care and the healthcare industry. Health care is supposed to enhance our quality of life and prevent disease. But are the high costs of care improving our quality of life or making us more miserable?
These facts about the healthcare industry relate to the field’s economic situation and quality of care. Though the United States spends more per capita on health care than any other country, its services, like urgent care, are not as quality as their counterparts in places like the United Kingdom.
In this article, we’ll lay out some interesting facts about health care and dive deeper into the state of urgent care in America.
The Facts About Health Care
- The United States is not the best in whow when it comes to coverage. This source claims that France has one of the top healthcare systems as it offers universal coverage and is government-organized. Due to its quality healthcare, France has one of the lowest levels of cardiovascular mortality. The United States’ approach to health care, however, combines a mixture of the single-payer approach and private insurers.
- Higher prices do not equal higher benefits. According to National Public Radio, the amount the United States spends per person on health care is the highest in the world, even though it has less-than-favorable outcomes for patient health. Some say its business model is to blame.
When a facility treats a large number of patients, it makes more money, but it does not mean those patients are receiving the proper care or that health care professionals are being held responsible for the quality of care. Unfortunately, some doctors are interested in being paid more by writing more prescriptions. - Prescriptions are more expensive in the United States than in other countries. Vox.com explains that the heartburn prescription Nexium costs $215 in the United States while in the Netherlands, it costs only $23—now that is a price gouge. Another source says that a quarter of Americans toss their prescriptions because they cannot afford to fill them. From medical devices to imaging scans, everything costs more when Americans visit the doctor. Other countries have a system with price controls and the government negotiates the price of prescriptions with the drug companies.
- The healthcare industry greatly affects the economy. When you factor in consumer spending, government spending, and employment, the healthcare industry is the most significant part of our nation’s economy, according to a Brookings report. Some think that if the government is spending more on health care, then eventually this growth will reduce spending on other necessary functions, like public safety and education.
- Urgent care centers are growing rapidly. Urgent care centers in the United States expanded to more than 10,000 since they started opening in the 1970. This is because they are a more affordable alternative to emergency rooms and quicker than a doctor’s visit. They play the role of the middle man between emergency services and your primary care doctor.
Urgent Care
Urgent care is not always set up in the same way. Urgent care lexington ky may look very different than care received in other parts of the world. For example, in the United Kingdom, urgent care centers may be located in hospitals and are publicly funded by the National Health Service; this is not the case in locations like urgent care in Lexington, KY. Both systems, however, still provide access to care that is immediate but not life-threatening, like broken bones, bites, sprains, and burns..
Conclusion
We cannot rely on the current healthcare system to inform us or to fix the quality of care in the United States. From urgent care in Lexington, KY to a general checkup with your primary doctor in California, individuals should research the best path and take responsibility for their health care. If they cannot do so, they should seek the help of an advocate. Though our health care is not up to par, we can make the best with what we have and can be thankful we have some form of care.
