Medical Measurement Analysis

Response Essay: How Measurement Fails Doctors and Teachers This essay will cover the topic of measurement and analytics in the medical and educational sectors and how it is negatively impacting each one respectively. I personally agree with the writer’s viewpoint and feel as though our current methods of measurement in both the healthcare and educational fields are incorrect; with issues and metrics of greater importance being overlooked due to an excessive amount of measurement. However, the methods can be corrected to properly capture the numerical data each field needs. Measurement practices were implemented as a way for both healthcare and education to increase their productivity levels as well as their efficiency. Both healthcare and …show more content…
In regards to the hospital rating system, it brings to question what the purpose of the measurement is at all. There seems little point in having sixteen hundred hospitals that are all able to claim to be in the top one hundred. The measurement is utterly useless. There is also valid concern behind doctors having minimal interaction with their patients. With healthcare becoming more of a high-volume industry, doctors have little time to converse with patients about the matters at hand when they have several forms to fill out. Coupled with a growing number of patients per doctor, it is clear that measurement is taking over the profession and the important outcome of helping people is being overlooked. However, there is some oversight when it comes to Wachter’s explanation of educational studies. While I do not doubt that studies of the arts and physical education are dwindling, test scores are likely not the main reason behind this. In North America, there is a stigma behind the study of art and the value it holds. Students are made aware that excessive focus on those studies is less important; as they are not as likely to yield a career in the future. Factors such as this are why I disagree with Wachter’s specific points about educational disciplines being largely …show more content…
Measurement is a valuable tool for an industry. With the proper data, trends can be mapped and important issues can be targeted effectively. It is also effective at setting industry standards that should be met. The tactics being used today by both fields to obtain their metrics is creating a daunting environment for the professionals in their fields. Far too many sets of data are being collected and the value in measurement is lost. The assessment process must be more focused to issues that are more prevalent. As an individual who is passionate about accounting, I can understand the desire for measurement and record keeping. It is the entire basis behind the profession. That being said, measurement in excess does not help any party involved and will result in reduced productivity and