Provide Three Real-World Examples In A Healthcare Organizati ✓ Solved

Provide three real world examples in a healthcare organization of under-use, overuse, and misuse for both quality and cost

Provide three real world examples in a healthcare organization of under-use, overuse, and misuse for both quality and cost. What are the implications for effectiveness, efficiency, and the patient for each of your examples? Basically, provide an example of underuse, overuse, and misuse. Then, for each example, list the implications or what could be wrong with the effectiveness, efficiency, and the patient in your examples. Help answering this question look at chapter 7 of the attached textbook. Your response should be a minimum of 1000 words, and include a minimum of 3 scholarly sources.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

Understanding Healthcare Utilization: Under-Use, Overuse, and Misuse

Effective healthcare delivery hinges on the optimal use of resources and appropriate clinical decision-making. Variations in healthcare practices—specifically under-utilization, over-utilization, and misuse—have significant implications for patient outcomes, system efficiency, and cost containment. This paper explores three real-world examples within healthcare organizations that illustrate these practices, analyzing their impact on quality and cost, and discussing the resulting effects on effectiveness, efficiency, and patient well-being.

Example 1: Under-Use of Preventive Services

Description

One prevalent example of under-use in healthcare is the inadequate utilization of preventive services, such as colorectal cancer screenings. Despite evidence supporting the effectiveness of regular screenings in early detection and improved survival rates (Berry et al., 2010), many eligible populations do not receive screenings due to factors like lack of access, patient awareness, or provider recommendation (Baker et al., 2014).

Implications for Effectiveness, Efficiency, and Patients

Failure to utilize preventive measures effectively leads to delayed diagnoses of serious conditions, resulting in more complex and costly treatments later on (Shapiro et al., 2012). For patients, this under-use diminishes their chances of early intervention, potentially worsening health outcomes and quality of life. Moreover, from an efficiency perspective, treating advanced disease stages requires more resources, increasing healthcare costs and straining system capacity (Tai et al., 2013). Thus, under-utilization negatively impacts both the quality of care and system sustainability.

Example 2: Overuse of Imaging in Low-Risk Patients

Description

Overuse occurs when healthcare providers order unnecessary imaging procedures, such as MRI or CT scans, for patients presenting with minor symptoms where clinical guidelines advise against routine imaging (Henderson et al., 2015). For instance, ordering MRI scans for uncomplicated back pain within the first six weeks may not improve outcomes but often leads to incidental findings, unnecessary anxiety, and additional interventions (Deyo & Mirza, 2014).

Implications for Effectiveness, Efficiency, and Patients

This overuse can lead to increased healthcare costs without proportional benefits, compromising efficiency (Mafi et al., 2017). Patients face risks associated with unnecessary radiation exposure, anxiety from false positives, and potential overtreatment (McDonald et al., 2013). Clinically, overuse complicates decision-making processes and can divert resources from patients who genuinely need advanced diagnostics, thereby impairing overall quality of care and resource allocation.

Example 3: Misuse of Antibiotics

Description

Misuse of antibiotics constitutes another critical issue, characterized by prescribing antibiotics for viral infections such as the common cold or influenza, where antibiotics have no therapeutic benefit (Ventola, 2015). This misuse arises from diagnostic uncertainties, patient expectations, or lack of adherence to antimicrobial stewardship protocols (Baker et al., 2018).

Implications for Effectiveness, Efficiency, and Patients

Overprescription contributes to antibiotic resistance, a global health threat that diminishes the effectiveness of existing antibiotics (Laxminarayan et al., 2013). For the individual patient, unnecessary antibiotics can cause adverse drug reactions and disrupt normal microbiota, leading to secondary infections (Dulou et al., 2014). Economically, misuse inflates healthcare costs due to unnecessary medication expenses and long-term societal costs related to resistance management. This practice ultimately impairs overall healthcare effectiveness and jeopardizes patient safety.

Conclusion

In summary, under-use, overuse, and misuse of medical resources within healthcare organizations significantly affect quality and costs. Under-utilization of preventive services hampers early detection and improves outcomes but leads to higher long-term costs. Overuse, particularly of imaging, contributes to unnecessary expense and patient harm without added benefit, while misuse of antibiotics accelerates resistance and diminishes therapeutic options. Addressing these issues requires comprehensive strategies involving provider education, patient awareness, adherence to evidence-based guidelines, and system-level interventions to optimize resource utilization, enhance care quality, and improve patient outcomes.

References

  • Baker, D., et al. (2014). Addressing disparities in preventive screening: Challenges and opportunities. Journal of Healthcare Disparities, 2(2), 45-55.
  • Berry, E. L., et al. (2010). Guideline adherence to colorectal cancer screening recommendations. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 38(2), 163-170.
  • Deyo, R. A., & Mirza, S. K. (2014). Overuse of diagnostic imaging for low back pain. Spine Journal, 14(8), 1176-1179.
  • Dulou, S., et al. (2014). Antibiotic stewardship programs and their impact. Infectious Diseases, 6(3), 105-112.
  • Henderson, D. K., et al. (2015). Appropriateness of imaging in low back pain. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 30(4), 448-452.
  • Laxminarayan, R., et al. (2013). Antibiotic resistance—the need for global solutions. Lancet Infectious Diseases, 13(12), 1057-1098.
  • Mafi, J. N., et al. (2017). Quantifying the consequences of overuse of imaging in low back pain. JAMA Internal Medicine, 177(12), 1743-1745.
  • Shapiro, J. R., et al. (2012). Impact of preventive service underuse on health outcomes. Public Health Reports, 127(4), 362-371.
  • Tai, B., et al. (2013). Cost implications of under-utilization of preventive health services. Cost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation, 11(1), 23.
  • Ventola, C. L. (2015). The antibiotic resistance crisis: part 1: causes and threats. PHT(Pharmacy and Therapeutics), 40(4), 277-283.

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