October 8, 2007

Brought to you by Thomas Jefferson University’s Department of Health Policy

Volume II, Number 37

Gaps in Prevalence of Chronic Disease Between the U.S. and Europe

The United States spends more on health care than any other European country. A
study published in Health Affairs on October 2nd examined differences in disease prevalence
and treatment rates for ten of the most costly conditions when treated in the U.S. and a
selection of ten European countries. Based on the 2004 study data, the authors concluded that
for many of the most costly chronic conditions, both disease prevalence and treatment rates
were higher in the U.S. The authors attribute the higher per capita health care spending in the
U.S. to more than poorer population health, but also to a more aggressive approach to
diagnosis and treatment of patients with mildly symptomatic or asymptomatic disease. (Health
Affairs Web Exclusive, US News & World Report, 10/2/07)
RWJF Supports Disparities Research
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) will provide nearly $16 million in grants
to develop and test a single national approach to bring consistency to measurement and
reporting efforts on quality and cost of care. The project will use National Quality Forum (NQF)
measures as the basis and integrate measures related to cost of care. The work being
supported through the RWJF will support the vision of the Quality Alliance Steering Committee
(QASC). The QASC was formed through the collaboration of the AQA Alliance with the Hospital
Quality Alliance for the purpose of developing a framework for effective use of quality and cost
measures. The information gained through this project will be used to identify and assess
disparities in care. It will also make more information about quality available through AHRQ;
thus, driving improvement in care. This project will be led by QASC Co-Chair Mark McClellan,
M.D., Ph.D., who is the former administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
He now works for the Engelberg Center which was formed to was formed to address the
challenges of access, quality and financing that face the U.S. health care system today.
(RWJF, 10/3/07)
Gaps in Trauma Care
You are involved in an accident that requires immediate care but there is not a trauma
center in the local hospital, what do you do? Many patients in the U.S. who are severely injured
have this experience. Trauma from injuries including accidents, falls and violence is the leading
cause of death for Americans under the age of 44, claiming more than 140,000 lives and
permanently disabling 80,000 people annually. In certain instances the presence of a trauma
center isn’t the only problem, but coordination to transfer patients who require trauma care also
contributes to a delay in care. According to the American College of Surgeons, only one in four
lives is served by a coordinated system to transfer patients to designated trauma centers from
less-equipped hospitals. Only eight state trauma systems met nationally recommended
preparedness levels in a study by the federal government after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist
attacks. While some progress has been made, many states remain woefully unprepared, trauma
experts say. Efforts are underway to create a national trauma system to transfer patients when
necessary. For more information about how to locate your local trauma center visit the
American College of Surgeons website, which has a list of verified trauma centers and the level
of care they provide (www.facs.org/trauma/verified.html). (Wall Street Journal, 10/3/07)

Any questions regarding this newsletter can be directed

to Valerie Pracilio at valerie.pracilio@jefferson.edu or
Bettina Berman bettina.berman@jefferson.edu.