Patient demand for unnecessary imaging is an issue addressed by which concept?

• A. Traditional Fee-for-Service
• B. Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing
• C. Choosing Wisely/High-value care
• D. Lean Management

Answer: (D)

Lean management focuses on delivering value to the patient by eliminating waste and streamlining how care is delivered. When patients request imaging that isn’t clinically necessary, the issue is often tied to process waste—duplication, delays, unnecessary steps, or misaligned incentives that lead to overuse. By mapping the imaging process from order to result (the value stream), teams can pinpoint where steps don’t add value and redesign workflows accordingly. Implementing standard work, evidence-based imaging pathways, and decision rules at the point of care helps ensure imaging is used only when it truly adds value. This systemic approach reduces unnecessary imaging while maintaining high-quality care. Choosing Wisely targets guidelines and conversations to curb overuse, but Lean provides the broad, sustain‑able method for removing the waste that drives that overuse in daily practice.