Unnecessary Medical Tests Ordered in at least 43% of Checkups
The American Journal of Preventive Medicine (2006 Jun;30(6):521-7) reports that 43% of patients undergoing a preventive health exam get an unnecessary urinalysis, electrocardiogram, or chest x-ray. The authors did not look at the inappropriate use of other tests. The authors state:
The frequency of ordering any of the three diagnostic interventions ranged from 5% to 37%, and at least one of the interventions was ordered 43% of the time. Annual direct costs for the three interventions range from $47 million to $194 million. [PubMed Citation]
There are several ways to solve this problem.
- Patient education would help decreased the demand for tests
- Physician education would help them determine which tests are appropriate
- More rigid regulations on self-referral
- Malpractice tort reform
The authors only looked at 3 tests ordered during a “preventive health exam.” They did not look at other tests, or other tests ordered during exams for other purposes. The cost to society likely is several billion dollars.
Filed under: Medical News