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Tuesday, 01 July 2008 11:27 |
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 Just like a kid with a new remote control car, doctors like to use their new toys.
But sometimes when doctors own their practices, and when their new equipment costs hundreds of thousands of dollars, the lines of medical necessity can get blurry.
The New York Times ran an in-depth story about the merit of CT scans, which can show 3-D photos of the heart. The story found that as soon as doctor’s groups buy the technology, which costs around $1 million, they tend to use it more than necessary at a cost of $500 to $1,500 per test.
Some medical experts say the American devotion to the newest, most expensive technology is an important reason that the United States spends much more on health care than other industrialized nations — more than $2.2 trillion in 2007, an estimated $7,500 a person, about twice the average in other countries — without providing better care.
There are at least 16 CT scanners around Richmond. In particular, St. Mary's has 3 and VCU Medical Center has 5.
John D. Grizzard, an assistant professor of radiology at the VCU Medical Center, says that CT scans can be helpful for looking at the degree of plaque buildup in arteries. “They are up to 99% accurate,” he said.
He added that he doesn’t think the technology is over-used.
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Or maybe it's because we see the health care industry's main goal as making money rather than keeping people healthy? Crazy thought, I know.