A startling new study conducted by researchers with RAND Health suggests doctors may not be providing full-time adequate healthcare. Appearing in the June 26th issue of New England Journal of Medicine, the study involved 7,528 adults who granted access to their medical records and participated in a comprehensive telephone interview about their health history.

According to the study, physicians failed to write down relevant information in patients' charts about half the time and often failed to take preventive care measures when necessary. Investigators involved in the study say the inadequacies "pose serious threats to the health of the American public." The study recommends the installment of a performance data system to help provide critical information on U.S. doctors.