70% of Americans say the health care system has failed them
The U.S. health care system is not meeting people’s needs, says the American Academy of Physician Associates: 56% of patients said they wait over a week to get an appointment, while 49% say providers don't always listen to them.
More than seven in 10 U.S. adults say the health care system is failing to meet their needs in some way, a recent survey by American Academy of Physician Associates found. The Patient Experience: Perspectives on Today’s Healthcare survey was conducted to get the patient perspective, said Lisa Gables, the organization’s CEO.
“So much has changed in health care since the pandemic, and the focus has largely been on the strain that health care teams are experiencing,” she said. “Certainly, we have to address that, as we know it impacts the resiliency and strength of our health care workforce. However, AAPA wanted to understand from the patient perspective what is and isn’t working in health care today.”
The survey generated several key findings:
- Respondents reported that they spend the equivalent of an eight-hour workday each month coordinating health care for themselves and/or loved ones.
- 71% of adults are concerned that the demands on health care providers are onerous.
- 68% worry that health care workforce shortages will affect patients.
- Two-thirds said health care providers appear to be more rushed than in the past.
- 47% believe their health care providers are burned out or overburdened, with nearly one-third reporting feeling rushed during a health care appointment.
- 61% seek health care services only when they are sick.
- 54% have skipped or delayed care in the past two years, with 40% saying the reason was cost concerns.
- 64% of adults want health care providers to spend more time understanding them, with 49% of respondents reporting that providers do not always listen to them.
- Two-thirds of adults believe their health would improve if they worked regularly with a health care provider they trusted.
- 54% of adults would feel more comfortable working with a health care provider who shares their background.
- The same percentage said their health would improve if providers helped them figure out the health care system.
Related: Health care, post-COVID: New challenges and opportunities for patients and providers
“The system is costly and confusing and it takes too long to get needed care,” said John Gerzema, CEO of The Harris Poll, which conducted the survey. ”The result is that people want to engage with it less, which can lead to even more health problems, both physical and mental.”