Main Features
Primary care doctors in the United States are less likely than those in other industrialized countries to have the tools and support needed to provide patients with the best care possible, according to findings from the Commonwealth Fund's 2006 International Health Policy Survey. Read more »
Though not for lack of trying, many pediatric practices struggle to meet the needs and expectations of families with young children. In a report published by The Commonwealth Fund, Stanford University's David Bergman, M.D., a leading expert on quality issues in child health care, explains that standardization, while intended to ensure that families receive core services and key information, tends to encourage a "one-size-fits-all" approach. Read more »
In Other News
Medical professionals who are "culturally competent" consider a patient's race and ethnicity, cultural background, primary language, health practices, and value systems when recommending treatment and providing care. At the National Conference on Quality Health Care for Culturally Diverse Populations, held in Seattle in October, The Commonwealth Fund released a series of reports exploring how cultural competency can improve quality and outcomes for patients, reduce disparities, and help patients become more active and engaged in their care. Read more »
Despite the rapidly rising costs of health coverage, a new study based on national survey data finds that two-thirds of U.S. employers--including those who provide health benefits and those who do not--either strongly or somewhat agree that all employers should share in the cost of health insurance for employees, either by covering their own workers or by contributing to a fund to cover the uninsured. Read more »
New data on the quality of care provided by health plans "holds out hope" for better overall health care system performance, according to a Data Brief released by The Commonwealth Fund's Commission on a High Performance Health System. Read more »
Innovations
The Local Long-Term Care Ombudsman Programs toolkit is designed to help state and local Long-Term Care Ombudsman Programs improve their performance as advocates for residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. Read more »
Items in Brief
- Compare and Save
- Reforming Well-Child Care: Lessons from Abroad
- Same Benefit, Different Experience
- Will the Mid-Term Elections Resuscitate Health Reform?
Read more »
Recent Grants
The Fund recently announced a new set of grants, including projects related to patient-centered care, health system performance, and child development. Read more »
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