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Japan slightly contradicts your points, having much cheaper MRI scans (~$200), many more MRI machines and scans per capita than the US. But yes, they tend to b
by greeneggs 14y ago
Japan slightly contradicts your points, having much cheaper MRI scans (~$200), many more MRI machines and scans per capita than the US. But yes, they tend to be less advanced MRI machines (not sure about older/newer). This is all put out in the Planet Money podcast linked just above.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120545569 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1205455...
- InclinedPlane 14y agoJapan is an interesting example of how interpreting statistics can be difficult. Japan is MRI crazy. It has a ton of MRI machines and people get scans all the time. However, does this lead to better care? As it turns out, a lot of Japan's MRI machines are older and cheaper and in many cases not as diagnostic as newer machines (for any given condition). But Japanese doctors give these scans because it makes people feel like they are being cared for, even when they're not. To a certain degree the same effect is taking place in the US, but I don't think it's nearly as significant.
- chris_mahan 14y agoPerhaps someone should do a study on the placebo effects of MRIs on outcomes...