What is a key approach to addressing waste by improving outpatient care?

• A. Improving the quality of chronic disease management and access to care in outpatient settings
• B. Building more inpatient facilities
• C. Reducing outpatient clinics
• D. Increasing surgical interventions

Answer: (A)

Focusing outpatient care on robust chronic disease management and better access targets waste by keeping patients healthier in the setting where they receive most of their care, and by preventing costly downstream events. When outpatient services provide regular follow-up, evidence-based treatment, medication reconciliation, patient education, and convenient access (including telehealth and timely primary care or urgent care), problems are detected early, adherence is improved, and complications are avoided. This coordination reduces avoidable emergency department visits, hospital admissions, duplicative testing, and fragmented care—all major sources of waste in healthcare.

Building more inpatient facilities would expand capacity for higher-cost care rather than tackle waste in the outpatient system. Reducing outpatient clinics would worsen access and continuity of care, likely increasing downstream costs and emergency care. Increasing surgical interventions generally raises cost and risk without addressing inefficiencies in managing chronic conditions in the outpatient setting.