> "most other developed" nations where waiting months for a specialist is accepted as normal

Which are these developed nations? Because to give my annecdotal perspective it isn't the case in Belgium or others that i know of (With minor exceptions like recently where orthodontists couldn't handle anyone but the most urgent due to covid measures and now have a backlog of patients.)

>and semiprivate rooms normally with no more than 2 people to a room, though 4 to a room has become more popular in some regions.

Every bedroom in every hospital i've been to has been double or single though i have no experience on that front in surrounding countries. Most are double with the single ones being for special cases or people willing to dish out or with great insurance.