Quality of Care and the Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Is Now the Time to Set Standards?

Global health-care costs continue to rise, with the United States spending nearly 18% of its gross domestic product on health care—more than double that of the United Kingdom, another high-income, highly developed country ( 1 ). Unfortunately, despite heading the list of countries with the most expensive health care (nearly $10,000 per person/year), the United States is nearly at the bottom of the list, compared with other industrialized countries, with regard to key metrics including infant mortality, heart disease, and overall longevity. Not surprisingly then, health care, and its attendant costs, is being scrutinized carefully. As we debate methods to control ever-rising health-care costs, the term “quality of care” is commonly heard. But, what does this truly mean?