When hospitals started merging together and removed control from the local community hospital run by local doctors, that is when it started to go off the rails. Yes there is a need for larger medical centers to handle trauma, but some stuff can be better managed at the local hospital. You are right in that bureaucracy has significantly added to the cost. Insurance also has been a huge driver since patients have no idea what the costs of their medical care really are. There needs to be competition so patients can shop it around.
The elephant in the room is that most Americans are sicker than we ever have been. Poor diets and bad lifestyles along with traditional pharma driven care has made this problem. It really is not going to change until the people themselves demand better.
When hospitals started merging together and removed control from the local community hospital run by local doctors, that is when it started to go off the rails. Yes there is a need for larger medical centers to handle trauma, but some stuff can be better managed at the local hospital. You are right in that bureaucracy has significantly added to the cost. Insurance also has been a huge driver since patients have no idea what the costs of their medical care really are. There needs to be competition so patients can shop it around.
The elephant in the room is that most Americans are sicker than we ever have been. Poor diets and bad lifestyles along with traditional pharma driven care has made this problem. It really is not going to change until the people themselves demand better.