Craig Turner, MD, says healthcare providers shouldn’t choose the clinical pathway that utilizes advanced technology solely on the belief that newer and more expensive technology equates to better healthcare.
In a column he wrote for OregonLive.com, Dr. Turner, who is also the founder of medical device company ETHOS Surgical, doesn’t deny the benefits of healthcare technology but says providers sometimes blindly jump at the chance to invest big dollars in the newest and latest technology, only to see those devices replaced by even newer and better ones in the near future. In addition, opting for technology over more traditional clinical pathways does not always mean improved outcomes or better cost-savings, he says.
“When done correctly, innovation should make things more cost-effective and safer while ensuring better results,” Dr. Turner wrote. “There are always ramp-up costs and physician-learning curves to consider, and therefore we must use only the most appropriate innovative technology and use it wisely.”
Read the column written by Dr. Turner about the used of medical technology.
Read other coverage about healthcare costs:
– AHRMM’s Survey to Provide Healthcare Executives’ Perceptions of Healthcare Supply Chain
– Prices of Brand-Name Drugs Skyrockets
– Medtronic CFO Dispels Rumors Company Is Shying Away From GPOs