Is Europe behind?

Published

I've asked myself this question a lot! Is Europe behind

in it's development in healthcare? I work in Amsterdam

(The Netherlands) and I think that my country is pretty

'modern'. But when new techniques are introduced, it

has been existing for many years in the USA!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in RETIRED Cath Lab/Cardiology/Radiology.

Funny you should ask . . . whenever I hear of new meds or advanced techniques or imaging (I work in the Cath Lab, and have worked in Radiology Dept in the past), I usually hear "Well, they've done studies in Europe, and they're using it all the time in ___________ (name European country of your choice), but it'll be a few years before it's here."

I have always heard that the US has more stringent hoops the companies must jump thru (think FDA), thus it takes longer and some trials may go on for a long time until the data is collected, then analyzed, then the results properly reported.

What dept do you work in, there in the Netherlands, and where are you based??

I see this is your fourth post; welcome to Allnurses! It's always good to network with nurses from other countries! We can always learn something from each other.

Again, Welcome!! :) :) :) :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I work on a level 3 NICU in Amsterdam, my hospital is called

VUMC. It is a university hospital and of course we have our

'own' studies, but a lot of the stuff we use on our ward has it's

origins in the US. But I am glad to hear that you have the same

experience! :D

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

"behind"...?

No I dont' think so......

I think in some ways, some European nations may be light-years ahead. Just look at one statistic: the morbidity and mortality rates among newborns in the first year of life.

In the USA, as an industrialized, modern nation with all kinds of resources, our rates are TERRIBLE!

Seems to me, a nation "behind" us is not going to have better such rates. The concept of "wholism" is relatively new to our country----there it's been a staple for centuries.

Understand, all I say is anecdotal and opinion.....

I have not done the research, so I can't speak with absolute authority---

and remember, "EUROPE" is a VERY large continent with many nations in it---it's rather diverse. It's a broad brush with which we paint, when we attempt to describe "Europe" is "behind" or "ahead" of us. WAY too complicated.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I just read an article that showed the U.S. spends almost twice as much as other industrialized country on healthcare, yet still has one of the lowest life expectancy rates.

That's in addition to our poor infant mortality rate.

So just because we have a lot of high tech gadgets first doesn't mean it's always best.

Edited to add: We may be lightyears ahead in technology, but I really believe we're way behind in lifestyle that affects our overall health as well.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

in the uk, healthcare is provided by the national health service, its paid for from social security and national insurance payments taken at source from everyone's wages. so there is one large provider in charge. in the usa there are thousands of different health care insurance providers, so there must be more of the americans money going into more offices and more office employees, not into the actual care that is provided. so although americans spend more money on healthcare compared to the uk, where does the money go?

yes theres offices and office workers and lots of management in the uk, which nurses always say that theres more of them than us, but at least its all going to one organisation.

I always thought that the usa were in front of the uk, as when I was back home we always heard of things being researched in the usa, which we introduced in the uk, but now I am here I realise that a lot of it is not being put into practice at floor level.

christine

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hemodialysis, Home Health.
I just read an article that showed the U.S. spends almost twice as much as other industrialized country on healthcare, yet still has one of the lowest life expectancy rates.

That's in addition to our poor infant mortality rate.

So just because we have a lot of high tech gadgets first doesn't mean it's always best.

Edited to add: We may be lightyears ahead in technology, but I really believe we're way behind in lifestyle that affects our overall health as well.

Agree with this.

Behind on "what" exactly... many variables there.

No, I don't think Europe is at all behind... far ahead in many things.. many, MANY things.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER.

A link for those of us that like statistics.

http://www.nationmaster.com/cat/Health

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I feel a bit proud of our little country! It is funny that

you all don't see it, the way I did/do. But you all disagreeing

with me makes me feel good about our own ward. And I realy

agree with the fact that someone said that new technology

isn't always the best.

Thanks for the great reactions! I like it here! I think I will

stay! :D

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hemodialysis, Home Health.
I feel a bit proud of our little country! It is funny that

you all don't see it, the way I did/do. But you all disagreeing

with me makes me feel good about our own ward. And I realy

agree with the fact that someone said that new technology

isn't always the best.

Thanks for the great reactions! I like it here! I think I will

stay! :D

WELCOME !

Glad to have you. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

As the other posters have noted, in order to even discuss the question you would have to define "behind." Behind in what way? The US spends much more on healthcare and has worse morbidity/mortality statistics than any other industrialized country on the planet. We spend a much higher percentage of our healthcare dollars on administrative and paper-shuffling expenses, thanks to our not having a centralized, single payer funding system. Apparently, from what I've heard in discussions like this in teaching hospitals and academic settings, The US is considered the "best" at dramatic, high-tech, high-dollar, "heroic measure" interventions (like heart-lung-liver transplants on neonates ... :rolleyes: ), but we do a lousy job of making sure all our citizens get basic primary care and a lousy job of managing chronic disease.

From what I've heard and read, Europe is doing just fine in the healthcare department. A lot of us here would like to see more of a "European approach" in this country! Welcome to allnurses --

Up Vote Up Vote ×

First of all I think you are right when it comes to an attitude

we have here in Europe/Amsterdam, which the US can learn from.

And I think we do have a better health care system, (although here in

my country a mayor change is coming and I don't know if it is going to

work... :rolleyes: ) but here on my ward (and on other wards

I've been on) when a new technology or a new form of thinking

is introduced, they always start with: "In the US they have been

using this for years blablablabla" So that is what made me wonder

weather nurses that are not from Europe feel that way too.

(Pfffff *sigh* I think I overstreched a braincell or 2...english is

very hard at 3 AM and a screamin baby in my ear :D

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment