Cost of healthcare

Had an interesting scenario today at work. Maybe this exemplifies how healthcare costs have spiraled up these days...

A patient had suspected acute appendicitis. I think the diagnosis is a clinical one. A more experienced colleague thinks the patient should get an ultrasound. An even more experienced colleague thinks a CT scan should be done.

I was trained in a "jungle". The first colleague worked in various towns/cities before. The most experienced colleague works in a big city hospital where "cost is no objection" (and where perhaps legal repercussion is the highest).

The manner and place we were trained and the available facilities determined our approach. The fact is if there are more "sophisticated" and expensive tools available to us, we will use it. Why not if it might save us from a lawsuit? It will give the impression that "the best tools at our disposal has been offered. If something goes wrong..well the best has been offered". Will this translate to better patient care? I doubt it...

I think better patient care comes from better human touch rather than the use of more expensive tools per se. And that is kinda more difficult to achieve.