March 16, 2022 – Among high-income countries, U.S. adults were the second least likely to have a regular doctor or place to go for care, ahead of only Sweden, according to the Commonwealth Fund data. The majority of adults in all 11 countries reported having a regular doctor or place of care, but adults in the U.S. and Sweden reported this at significantly lower rates than adults in most of the countries, Commonwealth reported in a recent examination of how the U.S. compares in primary care.
Some of the other findings:
- U.S. adults are the least likely to have a longstanding relationship with a primary care provider.
- Access to home visits or after-hours care is lowest in the U.S.
- U.S. primary care providers are the most likely to screen for social service needs.
- One-third of U.S. primary care physicians have mental health providers in their practice, compared with nearly all in the Netherlands and Sweden.
- Half of U.S. primary care physicians report adequate coordination with specialists and hospitals — around the average for the 11 countries studied.
“While there is a shortage of health workers globally, our analysis demonstrates that the U.S. primary care system trails far behind those of other countries in many areas, particularly when it comes to health care access and continuity,” The Commonwealth Fund said in its conclusion.
To read the full report, as well as several policy option suggestions for U.S. policymakers to consider as they work to improve primary care, click here.