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Figure 2

Numbers of Patients Seen Annually (average per physician)

3,176

3,143

2,222

Canada

U.K.

U.S.

Source: Gerard F. Anderson and Peter S. Hussey, “Comparing Health System Performance in OECD Countries,”

Health Affairs, May/June 2001.

Thirty percent of

20 minutes with their doctor on a visit, com-

physicians. Because there are fewer physi-

pared to 20 percent in Canada and only 5 per-

cians, they must see larger numbers of

American patients

cent in Britain (see Figure 3).22

patients for shorter periods of time. U.S.

spend more than

physicians see an average of 2,222 patients

When Americans see their doctors, they're

20 minutes with

per year, but physicians in Canada and

more likely to receive treatments with high-

Britain see an average of 3,143 and 3,176,

tech equipment. As Figure 4 shows, the use of

their doctor on a

respectively (see Figure 2).20 Family practi-

coronary bypass surgery in the United States

visit, compared to

is slightly more than three times higher per

tioners in Canada bear even higher patient

20 percent in

capita than in Canada and almost five times

loads--on the average, more than 6,000 per

year.21 Thus it is not surprising that 30 per-

higher than in Britain.23 The rate of coronary

Canada and only

cent of American patients spend more than

angioplasty in the United States is almost

5 percent in

Britain.

Figure 3

Percentage of Patients Spending More Than 20 Minutes with Their Doctor

30%

20%

15%

12%

5%

United States

Canada

New Zealand

Aus tralia

Britain

Note: Reflects most recent doctor visit.

Source: Karen Donelan et al., “The Cost of Health System Change: Public Discontent in Five Nations,” Health

Affairs, May/June 1999.

4