More is not necessarily better when it comes to healthcare

The rising cost of health care, slumping economy and increasing numbers of uninsured Americans continues to bring health care issues into the spotlight.  In addition, the upcoming presidential election feeds the rhetoric for health care reform.  As policy changes are discussed and decisions are made it’s important to remember that “more” is not always better. A post by Niko Karvounis discusses several studies which indicate that “more” does not mean better quality, improved outcomes or increased patient satisfaction when it comes to health care.

Finally given the results of the JAMA study regarding spending and patient satisfaction, one can’t help but wonder: Is it the patients or their families who are demanding more care at NYU?  How many patients really want to be poked and prodded by ten or more specialists? How many ask to die in an ICU?

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