How better clinical decision-making can optimize patient care and reduce healthcare costs
The eBook “Solving Unwarranted Variation in Care Begins with Clinical Decision-Making” explores how variations in clinical practice contribute to unnecessary healthcare costs and suboptimal patient outcomes. These unwarranted variations—such as over- or under-testing, incorrect diagnoses, and mismanagement of treatments—often stem from inconsistencies in clinician decision-making that deviate from evidence-based guidelines. The eBook underscores that cost-cutting efforts alone are insufficient; healthcare organizations must address variability at its source by supporting clinicians with timely, evidence-based resources and decision-support tools embedded within clinical workflows.
A central theme is the importance of empowering clinicians with fast, reliable access to current clinical knowledge, especially given the evolving roles within care teams and the increased complexity of care post-pandemic. Many clinicians frequently face unanswered clinical questions due to time constraints, potentially leading to errors or missed learning opportunities. Incorporating trustworthy, centralized information resources into everyday workflows, such as electronic health records, is essential to mitigate knowledge gaps. Promoting collaboration and standardization across teams also helps reduce conflicting practices and ensures aligned, patient-centered care.
The document also promotes the adoption of clinical pathways to standardize care and reduce variability in high-impact conditions such as atrial fibrillation, diabetes, and COPD. These pathways help clinicians navigate complex decision points by integrating patient-specific factors with the latest guidelines. The report concludes that reducing unwarranted care variation requires a systemic and coordinated approach that involves continuous clinician engagement, technology integration, and ongoing evaluation of practices. This strategy aims to enhance patient outcomes, improve operational efficiency, and control costs across healthcare systems.
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