Here is my earlier review on Norway. The information below on Sweden and Finland has not yet been presented before in my blog.
SWEDEN
Hospitals
- There are 4 types of medical facilities: local health centers, county level hospitals, district level hospitals, and regional teaching hospitals.
- Local health centers are staffed by GPs, nurses, midwives, occupational therapists, social workers and psychologists.
- Citizens can pick their own local health center and their own physician.
HIT
- 98% of Swedish GPs have computerized practices
- 90% use electronic medical records.
- Patients can provide physicians with necessary information before the visit using the patient’s Smart card.
Malpractice
- The Scandinavian model is built on the premise of no-fault liability.
- About 3 patients file a malpractice claim for every 1 in the U.S.
- Awards payments come from a compensation fund supported by tax revenues.
FINLAND
Hospitals
- Finland is divided into 20 hospital districts, each with 1 central hospital with more sophisticated technology and several satellite hospitals.
- Of the central hospitals, 4 are university hospitals with the most specialized care.
- Municipal health centers serve the majority of each community’s health needs.
Funding
- Funding is very decentralized. The central government only paid for 18% of care in 2000. The municipalities pay for the majority of care.
Malpractice
- Similar to the Swedish system
NORWAY
Insurance
- Has a centralized system, like Canada.
- The National Insurance scheme covers all citizens.
- No private insurance exists
Funding
- The National Insurance Scheme is funded by general tax revenues.
Physicians
- Most physicians work are paid via capitation. The capitation rate is based on the number of patients who have chosen a doctor to be their primary physician.
- Some specialists do work on a fee-for-service basis.
Malpractice
- Similar to the Swedish system
Source: Roth, WF (2010) Comprehensive Healthcare for the U.S.: An Idealized Model. Productivity Press, 174 pages.
