The United Kingdom is a leader in electronic patient records and reminder systems, an international survey of about 7000 primary care doctors shows. The UK also leads in providing care by nurses or doctors outside working hours (and outside the emergency room), in taking a team approach to care of patients with multiple or chronic illnesses, and in offering doctors financial incentives to improve their quality of care, the survey, which was carried out in seven countries, found.

“The US outspends the other countries. Total per capita costs in 2003 [in the US] came to $5635 [£2950, €4400] compared to $2231 in the UK. Yet US primary care physician practices are more limited than the leading …