Date of Conferral
2023
Degree
Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.)
School
Business Administration
Advisor
Warren Lesser
Abstract
Inappropriate test utilization by physicians for clinical decision-making in patient care is a significant problem facing some healthcare leaders. Healthcare leaders are concerned about inappropriate test utilization because it can increase healthcare costs and degrade patient outcomes. Grounded in the complex adaptive system and Lean Six Sigma conceptual frameworks, the purpose of this qualitative single-case study was to identify strategies seven hospital leaders in Maryland and Washington, DC. who implemented successful test utilization strategies for physicians. Data were collected from semistructured virtual interviews and organizational reports and analyzed using Yin’s 5 step process. Five themes emerged: (a) continuing physician education, (b) enforced accountability, (c) IT systems and EMR documentation training, (d) understanding financial ramifications, and (e) heightened resource stewardship. A key recommendation is for healthcare leaders to employ palliative care to mitigate physicians’ inappropriate test utilization. The potential for positive social change includes the potential to reduce patient testing-related risks, improve patient satisfaction, and reduce healthcare costs, resulting in improved dignity and quality of life for individuals in local communities.
Recommended Citation
Wood, Christine C., "Strategies to Mitigate Inappropriate Test Utilization by Physicians to Improve Efficiency in a Healthcare Setting" (2023). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 12233.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/12233
