I can attest partly to the hospitals in this country. I worked in a hospital in CA for a short time. My position was as Assistant to the CFO. I was in charge of all the Financial data and reporting.
The most crucial thing that I had to know at all times, I mean at every second of the day was this: HOW MANY BEDS ARE FULL!
That was the key to keeping the doors open and keeping the shareholders happy. I sat on calls with Corporate and couldn't believe what I heard sometimes. Every single decision the hospital made was based on the financial outcome or affect. Every single equipment purchase had it's own rate of return calculated and planned for (i.e. if they were going to purchase a mamogram machine, they needed a rate of return that would suffice in order to make the purchase in the first place, then plans would be set into motion as to how to get the number of patients using it in order to meet that rate of return). Actual patient care was hardly ever discussed.
I lasted a total of six months there. After leaving the CFO went through 3 diff. assistants, then actually called me at my new job begging me to come back, of course I said NO WAY!! The only other time after that I ever set foot in a hospital was when my dad had to have open heart surgery.
My mom used to have a saying in our native language that went something like this (translated): My daily prayer is that I never fall into the hands of a doctor or lawyer.