Kathleen O’Connor, health care industry analyst and journalist, founded
CodeBlueNow! upon the belief that the public has a right to be involved
in creating its own health care policy. Involved in healthcare for 30 years, she
shares her unique ability to communicate current health care topics in
a language everyone can understand.Document Actions
CodeBlueNow! Papers: Quality is Everybody’s Problem
By Elizabeth A. McGlynn, PhD, RAND Health
I work at the RAND Corporation, a nonprofit research organization providing objective analysis and effective solutions that address the challenges facing the public and private sectors around the world.
At RAND Health, where I am the associate director, we study problems related to the costs of health care, access to the health system and the quality of medical care.
For nearly 20 years, I've been investigating how well the U.S. health care system delivers services that are consistent with professional standards and good science. I've found that most people assume they are already getting top-quality medical care – but unfortunately, this is often not the case. People are dying needlessly as a result.
A major RAND study I led found that American adults on average get only about half of the health care services they need to prevent, diagnose and treat common medical problems that are the main causes of death and disability. The study found that the average adult needed about 16 health services – specific types of tests or treatments – over two years, but usually received only eight of those services.
