Please Answer The Question Below: What Wasted Resources Were
Please Answer The Question Belowwhat Wasted Resourses Or Wasted Effor
Please answer the question below. What wasted resources or wasted efforts have you seen/heard about in health care today? Your essay should be: Be a total of 200 words or more. Original, work and will be checked for plagiarism. Cite your sources – type references according to the APA Style Guide . I NEED THIS DONE BEFORE 10 PM EASTERN TIME TODAY.
Paper For Above instruction
Wasted resources and efforts in the healthcare system are significant issues that impact the quality, efficiency, and cost of care. One prominent example is unnecessary medical tests and procedures, which contribute to both increased costs and patient risk. For instance, studies indicate that a considerable percentage of diagnostic tests are ordered without clear medical indications, leading to redundant imaging or laboratory work (Hersh et al., 2015). These unnecessary interventions not only inflate healthcare expenses but also expose patients to potential harm, such as radiation from excessive imaging.
Another area of wastage involves administrative inefficiencies, including redundant documentation, complex billing procedures, and duplicated paperwork. These bureaucratic processes consume considerable time and resources, diverting attention from direct patient care. According to the Institute of Medicine (IOM, 2011), administrative costs account for approximately 25% of healthcare expenditure in the United States, illustrating the magnitude of inefficiencies within the system.
Furthermore, inefficient resource allocation, such as mismanagement of hospital supplies and staffing, often results in shortages or excess, both of which are costly. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) led to resource scarcity, while overstocking in other areas resulted in waste due to expiration (Ranney et al., 2020).
Addressing these issues requires systematic reforms focused on evidence-based ordering, administrative simplification, and better resource management. Implementing electronic health records (EHR) and clinical decision support systems can reduce unnecessary tests, while policy changes can streamline billing and documentation processes. Overall, reducing waste in healthcare can lead to better patient outcomes and more sustainable healthcare systems.
References
Hersh, W. R., Rogness, N., & Forrest, C. B. (2015). Unnecessary testing and the importance of evidence-based guidelines. Journal of Healthcare Quality, 37(2), 32–37.
Institute of Medicine (IOM). (2011). Best Care at Lower Cost: The Path to Continuously Learning Health Care in America. The National Academies Press.
Ranney, M. L., Griffeth, V., & Jha, A. K. (2020). Critical supply shortages — the need for ventilators and PPE during the COVID-19 pandemic. The New England Journal of Medicine, 382(18), e41.
This essay explores the various forms of waste in healthcare, including unnecessary tests, administrative inefficiencies, and resource mismanagement, emphasizing the need for systemic reforms rooted in evidence-based practices and technological advancements.