A recent survey by the World Health Organization found that not only did the U.S. rank 49^th out of 50 industrialized nations in health status, but also only 19 percent of Americans indicated they were satisfied with their healthcare.  In the same survey, 90 percent of Canadians indicated they were satisfied with their healthcare services.

The U.S. healthcare system is one of the most complex, expensive and convoluted systems in the world.  In 2001, healthcare expenses in America were $1.6 trillion, representing more than 14.6 percent of our nation’s Gross Domestic Product.  We spend over $5,000 per capita -- more than any other nation in the world -- and rank among least healthy. 

This is a very politically charged topic, fraught with special interests with their own agendas.  Physicians, insurers, health systems, trial lawyers, older Americans, businesses and drug companies have huge lobbying influence.  Unfortunately, they also are at polar opposites of most of our healthcare issues.

In early November 2002, six former secretaries of U.S. Health and Human Services met in Atlanta to discuss the issues plaguing our nation’s healthcare system.  They described our system as too costly, inefficient, unfair and in need of an overhaul.  In a rare display of unanimity among democrats and republicans who headed the federal health establishment during five administrations, the former cabinet members agreed that, despite its flaws, the system won't be reformed any time soon.

Matt Zavadsky, member of myregion.org’s CEO Roundtable and Emergency Medical Services Manager for Volusia County, shares with us his thoughts and observations in the report below as to what the three major factors affecting our healthcare system are, both regionally and nationally. Matt holds a masters degree in healthcare administration and is also an Adjunct Faculty at the University of Central Florida, College of Health and Public Affairs teaching programs on healthcare policy and economics.