Quality is relative, but we need better record keeping!

 As mentioned by Han in a prior post, quality merely reflects the fulfillment of care or lack thereof.  As such, measuring quality seems entirely subjective and can only be understood in a given context.  For example, measuring quality of care requires a relative benchmark.  The US system is leaps and bounds ahead of third world and developing countries but compared to many of the developed world (i.e much of Western Europe) our "quality" is lacking.  

That being said I believe that the most significant change to improve quality of care in the United States is BETTER MEDICAL RECORD KEEPING.  We have consistently mentioned medical records as one of the more glaring differences between our health care system and others of the developed world.  A priori logic would suggest having our medical records on file, would initially cause sluggishness of the system as doctors would then be forced to manually input data into computers.  This might initially be the case. 

But after the initial input of data into a nationalized record keeping system, the efficiency with which physicians could implement care would dramatically improve.  This would mean that each and every time we visit new doctors, our records would be easily accessed meaning less paperwork, and more patient to doctor time.  Having prior records would also help physicians diagnose health related issues as many new problems are often complications of older health problems.  All drugs that have been prescribed would be on file as well to minimize risks associated with drug interactions, complications, and side effects.  Many people fail or forget to self-report medications they are taking dramatically increasing risks of drug complications or even death...this problem needs immediate remedy.  

In addition, the US should look to increasing quality of care by establishing an independent efficiency and quality review board of health care. They should monitor, report, and explain the public the state of health care in the country with full TRANSPARENCY.  The FDA currently lacks the power, money, or staff to execute such a complex task.

I have spoken with numerous successful doctors on the issue of more advanced record keeping.  The consensus I have gotten (albeit from a sample size of 3) is all negative.  A neurologist, plastic surgeon, and ear nose and throat doctors have all told me that in their own experience, record keeping has only slowed down their ability to see more patients.  While this might be the case initially, once the rudimentary data is input, the speed and efficiency with which our health care system would skyrocket.