U.S. health system needs major overhaul, Commonwealth Fund survey finds

Americans seem to be overwhelmingly dissatisfied with the U.S. health care system. Some 82 percent of Americans think it should be fundamentally changed or completely rebuilt, according to a new survey released today by The Commonwealth Fund.

Some other key points the survey found:

  • Nine out of 10 Americans think the two leading presidential candidates should propose health care reform plans that improve quality and affordability and decrease the number of uninsured people.
  • Nearly half — 47 percent — of Americans say they experienced poorly coordinated medical care in the past two years, such as poor communication regarding lab test results, a lack of information shared between doctors or nurses as well as between primary care doctors and specialists.

So what has the best shot at improving these (not surprising) problems? A universal health plan? The medical home concept? Consumer-directed health plans with greater transparency?