By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Two Common Sources of Overtreatment
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Policy & Law > Medical Ethics > Two Common Sources of Overtreatment
Medical Ethics

Two Common Sources of Overtreatment

Jim Sabin
Jim Sabin
Share
4 Min Read
Image
SHARE

Experts, most recently former CMS administrator Don Berwick, tell us that no less than 20% – 30% of medical care is “waste.” At the very least, “waste” is harmful to all those who pay for Medicare. But often it’s directly harmful to the patient as well.

Experts, most recently former CMS administrator Don Berwick, tell us that no less than 20% – 30% of medical care is “waste.” At the very least, “waste” is harmful to all those who pay for Medicare. But often it’s directly harmful to the patient as well.

I recently saw a friend at a party. Since we’d last seen each other my friend’s spouse had died. (I’m deliberately avoiding gendered pronouns and omitting other identifying details.) My friend contrasted the excellent hospice care the spouse received with problem-ridden hospital care. Here are two examples of “waste” that were thwarted only by my friend’s vigilance.

My friend’s spouse (“the patient”) was declining rapidly, and was admitted to the hospital. While my friend was attending to some bureaucratic aspects of the admission, the hospitalist ordered a CT and insertion of a “picc line” (“picc” = “peripherally inserted central catheter”).

More Read

benefits of used and refurbished medical imaging equipment for your medical practice
Why Your Medical Practice Needs Used or Refurbished Medical Equipment
Medical Complications and Medical Negligence: What’s the Difference?
Physician Malpractice Data in Chart Form
EHRs And The Law: When Interoperability Isn’t a Choice
Scammers Preying On The Elderly: How To Be More Vigilant

On returning to the patient’s bedside my friend pointed out that an identical CT scan had been done four days earlier.

The hospitalist responded – “I don’t have it.”

My friend replied – “Rather than putting such a sick person through another CT and spending another few Imagethousand dollars, let’s get it.”

With regard to insertion of the catheter, my friend asked: “what aspect of the plan does it serve?” The answer was – it was an automatic part of a protocol, not tailored to the wishes of the patient and family. When their goals were clarified, the picc line idea was dropped.

I know from my own practice experience that getting test results and records can be difficult. But repeating an identical test four days after it had been done elsewhere is a very expensive workaround that would have imposed avoidable distress on the patient. And although threading a catheter to place near the heart is a fairly routine hospital procedure, it carries risks (such as infection) and burdens (being hooked up to tubing). The hospital protocol should have required clarity about treatment goals before a non-emergency intervention was set into motion.

What struck me about these examples of overtreatment is how mundane they were. The hospitalist meant well. It was important for him to have the information the CT scan would provide, but repeating it wasn’t the right way to get it. And having routines can promote patient safety – but only when the routine is tailored to the true situation. In a non-emergency, getting clarity about the treatment goals of patient and family should be part of what we physicians routinely expect of ourselves.

My friend improved the spouse’s care and, at the same time, reduced costs. The public won’t be ready to consider reduced Medicare benefits or rationing until this kind of lose/lose waste is eliminated from the health system!

TAGGED:overtreatment
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

dental care
Importance of Good Dental Care for Health and Confidence
Dental health Specialties
October 2, 2025
AI in Healthcare
AI in Healthcare: Technology is Transforming the Global Landscape
Global Healthcare Policy & Law Technology
October 1, 2025
Choosing the Right Swimwear for Health and Safety
News
September 30, 2025
sports concussions
Concussion In Sports: How Common They Are And What You Need To Know
Infographics
September 28, 2025

You Might also Like

eHealthHealth careMedical EducationMedical EthicsParenting

Vaping Health Risks Raise Alarm About Educating Younger Generations

February 11, 2020

Audit: African-Americans Less Likely to Receive Study Grants

August 20, 2011

Handling HIPAA Rules In Sports: Why Athlete Privacy Matters

April 18, 2016

Bloggers and Social Media Risk

February 21, 2011
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?