Doctors must learn to talk about death, end-of-life care options

America’s health-care establishment is in the midst of a dramatic paradigm shift. Providers nationwide are being called to enact monumental changes in the care delivery model to expand access, improve quality and at the same time reduce cost. It’s a tall order.

And yet, the numbers don’t lie. According to the World Health Organization, America spends more on health care than any country in the world — nearly double the amount committed by any other nation. In 2011, we spent $8,500 per person on health care. By comparison, Germany spent $4,500; Japan, $3,200; Costa Rica, just $1,197.