Most Americans Had No Problems Receiving Medical Care ‘As Soon As They Wanted It,’ AHRQ Survey Finds

During calendar year 2000, about 54% of Americans ages 18 and older who did not live in institutions or serve in the military "always" received urgent medical care "as soon as they wanted it," according to HHS' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The findings are from a new questionnaire added to the agency's Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, which annually collects data on health care utilization and access, health status and quality. For the questionnaire, participants were asked about the timeliness in which they received urgent and routine medical care, as well as their experiences during care. The agency found:

• 72.3% of respondents had visited a doctor or medical clinic in the 12 months prior to the survey. Of those individuals, 82.6% said they had "no problems receiving the care they or their doctor believed was necessary"; 89.8% said their care providers "always or usually listened carefully" to them; and 84% said their care providers "always or usually spent enough time with them."
• 64.4% of blacks said their care providers "always explained things so they understood," compared with 58.6% of whites and 53.1% of Hispanics.
• 43% of respondents said they "always" received an appointment at a clinic or doctor's office "as soon as they wanted." Participants ages 65 and older were the most likely to say that they "always" obtained an appointment as soon as they wanted.
• 58.4% of respondents said they were "always treated ... with respect"; 31.8% said they were "sometimes" treated respectfully; and 9.8% responded "sometimes or never." Participants ages 65 and older were more likely than younger participants to say that they were treated with respect.
• 84.5% of participants with private health insurance said they had no problem obtaining necessary care, compared with 71.5% of individuals with public health insurance and 72.9% of those who were uninsured.