See what EM trends, spending, training, and more is like in the US healthcare system compared to other countries around the world in this quick guide now.
Did you know the United States was one of the first countries to establish emergency medicine as a specialty?
Since so many countries around the world use the US model for their EM training, it’s fairly easy to asses the US healthcare system compared to other countries in the realm of ED wins and fails[*].
And now it may be time for American emergency departments to learn a few lessons from how these countries have improved upon their blueprint.
So in this guide, we’ll compare aspects of the US healthcare system with those in Europe and Asia so you can see how your independent ED group fits in — or stands out.
The US Healthcare System Compared To Other Countries In Europe
Before we get to other countries across the EU, let’s discuss the UK specifically first.
Before we get to other countries across the EU, let’s discuss the UK specifically first.
Plus, not all EM residency programs include training at a level 1 trauma center. This means hospitals and independent ED groups may need to spend extra time and money training new staff.
One major plus to the UK’s healthcare system is their wait times.
EDs in the UK have a “four hour target” window, which gives financial incentives to streamline emergency care so it doesn’t exceed this timeframe.
This four-hour clock starts the moment a patient checks into the ED and ends when they physically check out.
Over 95% of patients across 20 UK EDs are seen and treated within 4 hours thanks to this rule[*].
Now let’s branch out to the rest of the EU.
Hospital admissions for heart failure patients account for the largest expense when it comes to management and treatment.
Studies show the mean per-patient cost of a HF-related hospitalization totals around $14,000 for Medicare beneficiaries[*].
And in those studies, 22.3% of patients were readmitted within 30 days, 33.3% were readmitted within 60 days, and 40.2% were readmitted within 90 days, compounding costs further.
This is why researchers believe EM physicians should prioritize timely access to longitudinal care for patients with heart failure who are discharged from their independent ED group.
How US Healthcare Compares To Other Countries In The EU
While the discussion about the health of citizens in the US and EU is a topic for another time, we can compare stats about how emergency medicine is handled across borders using several notable studies[*].
To begin with a big issue, the US has the highest rate of deaths which could be avoided by routine healthcare interventions compared to those in the EU.
Per 100,000 people, the average number of preventable deaths is 70. Here’s how other countries compare:
Average # of Preventable Deaths | Country |
|---|---|
96 | in the US |
83 | in the UK |
76 | in Germany |
65 | in France |
When citizens don’t have access to preventative services, chronic conditions such as heart disease, asthma, and diabetes cause hospital admission rates to be higher as well.
Which means hospital admissions for preventable diseases are more frequent in the US.
Here’s how the US emergency admission rate for chronic conditions per 100,000 patients compares to other EU countries:
Chronic Conditions per 100,000 | U.S. vs. Other EU Countries |
|---|---|
Congestive heart failure | 367 cases versus 218 in other countries |
Asthma | 103 patients compared to 35 elsewhere |
Diabetes | 198 vs 144 in the EU |
Not having treatment options for chronic diseases may come down to not being able to make an appointment with a physician.
Here’s the percentage of patients who can make a same or next-day appointment with a doctor or nurse when they need care:
Can Make Next-Day Appointment | Percentage |
|---|---|
United States | 48% |
United Kingdom | 52% |
France | 57% |
AVERAGE | 58% |
Australia | 58% |
Sweden | 58% |
Netherlands | 63% |
Germany | 76% |
On average, 19% of patients have to wait six days or more for an appointment.
And the US has longer wait times for appointments when patients are sick than any other EU country. Here’s how many wait six or more days for an appointment:
Wait Six or More Days for Appointment | Percentage |
|---|---|
United States | 26% |
Sweden | 22% |
United Kingdom | 16% |
France | 16% |
Since patients in the US have trouble seeing their GP, the use of the emergency department in place of regular doctor visits is more common in the US than in most comparable countries.
The average percentage of patients who visited the ED for a condition which could have been treated by a general physician is 7%.
Check out the percentages of non-emergency cases in:
Percentages of Non-Emergency Cases | Percentage |
|---|---|
United States | 13% |
Sweden | 10% |
Switzerland | 8% |
Australia | 7% |
Netherlands | 6% |
France | 4% |
United Kingdom | 4% |
Germany | 3% |
It’s clear to see why independent ED groups are spending so much time and money on non-urgent ER visits these days — and why they’re always looking for ways to reduce this number.
But what’s the story of healthcare like in Asia?
The US Healthcare System Compared To Other Countries In Asia
EM was first started in Singapore back in 1984. As the speciality grew, doctors, nurses, and students flocked to EM programs in the US and UK for hands-on training and experience.
A comprehensive study on EM trends in Asia shows[*]:
Not all hospitals have emergency departments. The percentage of hospitals able to treat emergency traumas per country is:
Able to Treat Emergency Traumas | Percentage |
|---|---|
South Korea | 17% |
Hong Kong | 32% |
Tiawan | 38% |
Japan | 46% |
Singapore | 50% |
Thailand | 75% |
Malaysia | 100% |
Because so few hospitals exist per the large population sizes in Asia, many EDs cannot refuse to treat patients, similar to the US.
In remote parts of Asia, EDs are often patients’ only access to medical care.
But treating every patient comes with longer average wait times for a bed, which can range from five hours to 168 hours, as you can see by country:
Make sure you’re following operations strategies designed to shorten patient stays, better outcomes, increase patient satisfaction, and generate revenue to rise above some of these less-than-impressive numbers.
Wait Times | Hours to Wait |
|---|---|
India | 5 Hours |
Thailand | 8 to 12 Hours |
Singapore | 10 Hours |
Malaysia | 6 to 24 Hours |
Philippines | 6 Hours for Private, 24 Hours for Public Hospitals |
Hong Kong | 24 to 48 Hours |
Taiwan | 168 Hours |
Longer wait times not only increase the chances of a condition getting worse, but also increase the number of dissatisfied patients and those who leave without being seen.
Wait times are also affected by the fact that doctors per population rates are very low in Asia.
With more people using EDs, the demand for certified emergency physicians only grows. In Malaysia, Philippines, and Thailand, there’s only one certified emergency physician per 100,000 people.
Nurses are also in high demand in Asia as the proportion of nurses working in the ED ranges from just 1% in Japan to 15% in Philippines. By comparison, Registered Nurses (RNs) are one of the largest healthcare occupations in the US, with employment in over 2.4 million jobs[*].
So How Does Your Independent Emergency Department Compare?
As you can see by these stats, the US healthcare system has a ways to go before being perfect but your ED practice can only improve upon this solid foundation.
Make sure you’re following operations strategies designed to help your independent ED group shorten patient stays, better outcomes, increase patient satisfaction, and generate revenue to rise above some of these less-than-impressive numbers.
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