4 ms·
Also more physicians per capita. US is around 25 per 10k, most Western European countries are around 35, some up to 50.
by dmoy 7y ago
Also more physicians per capita. US is around 25 per 10k, most Western European countries are around 35, some up to 50.
- bpodgursky 7y agoIn the US, "physicians" might be less numerous, but there are a lot of highly-skilled intermediary roles that fill the gap -- Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners, etc, all perform routine treatment performed by "physicians" in other countries. US physician training is honestly excessively long, complicated, and expensive (although there are justifications for making it this way), but it's a simplification to point out that there aren't as many doctors, without noting all the other doctor-esque roles with significant overlap.
- speedplane 7y ago> it's a simplification to point out that there aren't as many doctors, without noting all the other doctor-esque roles with significant overlap. Comparing the number of doctors in the US to other countries is not a good measure of anything. But noting that americans spend more per capita and get worse health outcomes is pretty significant.
- bpodgursky 7y agoI'm definitely not trying to make any greater point, only that the 25 vs 50/10k is not a meaningful measure of healthcare quality or capacity.