How Americans Can Get Healthier

By Lindsay Dymowski Constantino, President

Centennial Pharmacy Services

. https://www.centennialpharmacy.com/

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How Americans Can Get Healthier

The findings of a recent report comparing health system performance in 10 countries around the world make it very clear that Americans struggle with staying healthy. The report, prepared by the independent research group The Commonwealth Fund, places the US dead last among the 10 nations regarding health outcomes. It notes that US life expectancy is more than four years below the 10-country average and that the US has the highest rate of preventable and treatable deaths for all of the age groups it studies, all despite the fact that the US outspends all of the other countries in the area of healthcare.

Understanding why poor health is the norm in the US requires a look at two key factors: the practices of US healthcare providers and the attitudes of Americans regarding their health. Helping Americans to get healthier requires addressing both.

The US approach to healthcare

The revered US statesman Benjamin Franklin gave Americans a simple prescription for effective healthcare when he explained that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Unfortunately, the US healthcare system doesn’t follow Franklin’s wisdom.

In the vast majority of cases, the US healthcare system can best be described as reactive. Rather than focusing on steps that can prevent failing health with an ounce of prevention, it chooses to treat conditions after they occur with a “pound of cure.” According to recent reports by News Medical, the scales are tipped heavily toward reactive care, with only approximately 8 percent of Americans currently involved in routine preventive health screenings.

The tendency toward reactive care in the US has led to serious issues with chronic disease, which are the leading drivers of the nation’s health expenses and mortality. According to statistics released by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2024, 6 in 10 Americans have at least one chronic disease — such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes — and 4 in 10 have two or more chronic diseases. The report on reactive care issues by News Media suggests that 80 percent of chronic diseases could be prevented with preventive care.

Health screenings are a key component of preventive care. Unlike reactive care, which waits until symptoms appear to seek treatment, screenings allow potential health problems to be identified before symptoms surface. Something as simple as a cholesterol screening or blood pressure check, both of which can be conducted by a pharmacist, can catch the potential for chronic conditions in phases where they are still preventable.

Education is another key component of preventive care. As Americans develop a better understanding of the activity that can lead to health risks and the preventive measures they can take to avoid those risks, they gain the capacity to be more active participants in the healthcare system. Medication therapy management and over-the-counter medication management are both effective forms of healthcare education that pharmacists can provide to prevent medication errors and improve treatment adherence.

Americans’ attitude toward healthcare

Statistics on preventive care make an excellent case for shifting the US healthcare system away from its reactive focus. However, healthcare providers are only half of the problem; making an impact would also require help from patients.

Implementing preventative measures poses a challenge to patients primarily due to the significant behavioral changes they require. Improving heart health, for example, can require changing long-standing dietary habits or increasing physical activity, both of which come with financial costs that are prohibitive to many. As a result, most patients resist change and hope to avoid a troubling diagnosis. But, as the stats show, more than half end up with a chronic disease.

The burden on the healthcare system

The Commonwealth Fund report pointed out that Americans spend more on healthcare than other countries, yet experience much worse results. The reason is partially tied to the cascade effect of choosing reactive care over preventive care.

With reactive care, patients wait until a condition is diagnosed to receive treatment. At that point, their compromised health makes them susceptible to additional health complications, which adds layers of complexity and cost to treatment. In addition, the US physician shortage means patients often must seek reactive care from alternative sources, many of whom are not properly positioned to provide optimal care under the US healthcare framework.

For example, patients who are diagnosed with a chronic condition are typically prescribed at least one medication, if not more than one. Proper medication management can prevent hospitalizations, stabilize conditions, reduce healthcare costs, and improve the patient’s quality of life. That means patients must work closely with their pharmacists to adhere to their medication regimen and talk about side effects and any barriers to taking medication properly. Yet, the current US healthcare system does not effectively leverage pharmacists to address those needs.

By many measures, current US healthcare practices are failing to keep the nation healthy. If a reactive approach continues to be the norm, there is little hope patients will experience better outcomes. Taking steps to facilitate a switch to preventive care, however, has great potential for improving conditions for patients, providers, and the system at large.