Australian health policies related to diagnostic imaging: too much of a good thing?
Sean Docking
A B * , Rebecca Haddock C D and Rachelle Buchbinder A B
A Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Malvern, Vic., Australia.
B Monash-Cabrini Department of Musculoskeletal Health and Clinical Epidemiology, Cabrini Health, Malvern, Vic., Australia.
C Deeble Institute for Health Policy Research, Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
D Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Burwood, Vic., Australia.
Australian Health Review 46(5) 635-638 https://doi.org/10.1071/AH22064
Submitted: 22 March 2022 Accepted: 4 July 2022 Published: 28 July 2022
© 2022 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of AHHA.
Abstract
Diagnostic imaging is increasingly being used in Australia to aid clinician diagnostic and therapeutic decision-making. There is concern that this increased use represents an overconsumption of inappropriate health services, which wastes finite resources and may cause direct or indirect harm to the patient. Australian health policies have primarily focused on increasing patient access to diagnostic imaging. While these policies address inequitable access and may lead to timely diagnosis and improved health outcomes, these benefits have not been weighed against the unintended harms. This perspective article will explore the unintended consequences of increasing access to diagnostic imaging as well as provide potential solutions to improve the effectiveness of policies in this area.
Keywords: clinical services, diagnostic imaging, health economics, health policy, health services, low-value care, magnetic resonance imaging, value-based care.
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