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Radio Havana Cuba
http://www.radiohc.cu

USA Number One:
Highest Infant Mortality Rate Among Industrialized Countries

Washington, September 26 (RHC)-- The United States is Number One among
industrialized nations around the world -- with the highest infant
mortality rate. According to a new study, when compared to nearly two
dozen
other industrialized countries, the U.S. not only has the highest
mortality
rate among young peopel, but the lowest life expectancy for people who
have
reached the age of 60.

Those statistics were part of a report on the U.S. health care system
released by The Commonwealth Fund's Commission on a High Performance
Health
System. The study looked at 37 national indicators of health outcomes,
quality, access, equity and efficiency and assigned a score to each.
The US
scored an average of 66 out of a possible 100 -- a failing grade.

The study found that if performance were improved in key areas, the
United
States could save an estimated 150,000 lives and perhaps as much as
$100
billion annually. For example, if health care providers increased the
proportion of patients who have their diabetes and high blood pressure
under control, as many as 40,000 deaths per year could be prevented at
a
savings of at least one billion dollars, according to the National
Committee for Quality Assurance.

The new report also reveals that nearly one in four U.S. adults
reported
having to wait at least six days to receive care when they needed
medical
attention. It also shows that Latinos are far more likely to lack
health
insurance than other ethnic and racial groups.

According to the new study, the mortality rate among African-Americans
is
significantly higher at infancy and for those with heart disease or
diabetes. The report says that Blacks also have considerably lower
rates of
cancer survival.

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