How has the quality of the U.S. healthcare system changed over time? - Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker

Summary: Measuring how well the U.S. healthcare system works is complicated, but recent data shows a mix of good and bad news. On the positive side, hospital readmissions have stayed steady, and some dangerous hospital infections are finally going down after spiking during the pandemic. Maternal mortality—the rate of women dying from pregnancy complications—dropped in 2022.

However, there are still major problems. Black women are more than twice as likely to die from pregnancy issues compared to White or Hispanic women. People with diabetes are seeing steady rates of preventable hospital visits, and Black adults face higher rates of amputations. On top of that, it is getting harder to actually see a doctor. The average wait time for a new patient appointment is up to 26 days, and the number of hospital beds is shrinking. Even though we have more doctors and nurses than before, we still face huge shortages in primary care, dental care, and mental health. To stay healthy, experts say it is incredibly important to keep up with preventive care like cancer screenings and vaccines.

For more details, see Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker at healthsystemtracker.org/chart-collection/how-has-the-quality-of-the-u-s-healthcare-system-changed-over-time/ (opens in new tab)