QUALITY-CONTROL IN THE UNITED-STATES

On a per capita basis, PTCA is more than three times more prevalent in the United States than in any other country. The US has nearly 1,000 institutions and 7,000 physicians doing angioplasty. Mortality and eme rgency bypass surgery rates are inversely proportional to angioplasty volume. Although PTCA is more prevalent in the United States, operator s in other countries do more cases than do their US counterparts. Mult iple forces control quality in the United States. Economic, political and legal forces are all important. In the final analysis physician et hics are the most important determinants of (sic).