News: Patient experience survey shows disenchantment with United States healthcare system

In a survey assessing the patient perspective on United States healthcare, 73% of adults feel the healthcare system fails to meet their needs. The survey was conducted for the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) and found 61% of adults seek healthcare services only when they get sick, and 53% have skipped or delayed care in the last two years. Managing healthcare was termed “overwhelming” and “time-consuming” by 65% of those surveyed, HealthLeaders reported.

Data was collected from more than 2,500 adults surveyed from February 23 to March 9, 2023, and generated other key findings such as:

• 71% of adults are concerned that the demands on healthcare providers are onerous
• 64% of adults want healthcare providers to spend more time understanding them
• 67% of adults reported that their health would improve if they worked regularly with a healthcare provider they trusted
• 54% of adults would feel more comfortable working with a healthcare provider who shares their background
• 54% of adults reported that their health would improve if healthcare providers helped them figure out the healthcare system
• Adults spend the equivalent of eight hours each month coordinating for themselves and/or for family and loved ones

“What struck me from the research we conducted on behalf of AAPA is how clearly the findings demonstrate how the system itself is getting in the way of people being able to take care of themselves as well as the ones they love,” John Gerzema, CEO of The Harris Poll, said in the survey report. “The system is costly, confusing, and it takes too long to get needed care. The result is that people want to engage with it less which can lead to even more health problems—both physical and mental.”

The survey details how difficulty engaging with healthcare providers can have negative consequences, particularly delaying or entirely skipping care which can prevent them from undergoing routine preventative care. Many who helped someone else coordinate care say their life experienced a negative impact as well.

Editor’s note: To read HealthLeaders’ coverage of this story, click here. To read the AAPA survey results, click here.