Which practice illustrates waste by favoring costly procedures when cheaper alternatives would suffice?

• A. Recommending costly procedures or surgery when other less costly medical alternatives are sufficient
• B. Always choosing cheaper options
• C. Avoiding unnecessary imaging
• D. Diagnosing less costly alternative

Answer: (A)

Waste in healthcare shows up when resources are used more than necessary to achieve the same health outcome. Recommending costly procedures or surgery when other less costly medical alternatives would suffice is a clear example because it increases costs and potential patient risk without adding extra benefit. This is exactly the kind of high-cost, low-value care that wastes limited resources.

By contrast, avoiding unnecessary imaging is a behavior that reduces waste, since it cuts back on tests that don’t change the plan or outcomes. The idea of always choosing cheaper options isn’t inherently wasteful or waste-reducing on its own—it depends on whether those cheaper choices provide the same quality of care. Diagnosing less costly alternatives, without context, doesn’t itself illustrate waste.