Electronic health record (EHR) systems became extensively implemented across medical facilities throughout the 2000s and 2010s, leading to enhanced op...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Electronic health record (EHR) systems became extensively implemented across medical facilities throughout the 2000s and 2010s, leading to enhanced operational efficiency in healthcare service provision, however, the most significant efficiency improvements occurred within administrative and billing processes, activities that take place following the completion of patient diagnosis and therapeutic planning phases. This indicates that throughout the 2000s and 2010s, ______
Which choice most logically completes the text?
EHR systems had a smaller impact on the efficiency of patient diagnosis and treatment planning compared to their impact on administrative and billing operations efficiency.
medical professionals generally anticipated that implementing EHR systems would decrease patient waiting periods more significantly than administrative processing durations.
healthcare facilities broadened their range of services to address more varied medical conditions while simultaneously decreasing clinical personnel.
EHR systems facilitated easier management of complicated medical cases for physicians relative to standard patient appointments.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Electronic health record (EHR) systems became extensively implemented across medical facilities throughout the 2000s and 2010s' |
|
| 'leading to enhanced operational efficiency in healthcare service provision' |
|
| 'however, the most significant efficiency improvements occurred within administrative and billing processes' |
|
| 'activities that take place following the completion of patient diagnosis and therapeutic planning phases' |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: EHR systems during the 2000s-2010s improved healthcare efficiency overall, but the most significant improvements were in administrative and billing processes rather than in patient diagnosis and treatment.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes that EHRs were widely implemented and improved efficiency generally. It then narrows this broad claim by specifying that the most significant improvements were in administrative and billing processes, which occur after patient diagnosis and treatment planning.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? We need to complete a logical conclusion that follows from the evidence presented about EHR implementation. The phrase 'This indicates that' signals we need to draw a conclusion that logically follows from the evidence presented.
What type of answer do we need? A logical inference that follows from the comparison between administrative/billing improvements versus other healthcare processes.
Any limiting keywords? 'This indicates that' requires the answer to be a direct logical consequence of the information provided.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The passage tells us that while EHRs improved efficiency overall, the most significant improvements were in administrative and billing processes, which happen after patient diagnosis and treatment planning
- This creates a logical comparison - if admin/billing saw the most significant improvements, and these happen after diagnosis/treatment, then diagnosis/treatment must have seen less significant improvements
EHR systems had a smaller impact on the efficiency of patient diagnosis and treatment planning compared to their impact on administrative and billing operations efficiency.
- This directly matches our prethinking about the relative impact of EHR systems
- If admin/billing processes had the 'most significant' improvements, then diagnosis/treatment must have had smaller improvements by comparison
medical professionals generally anticipated that implementing EHR systems would decrease patient waiting periods more significantly than administrative processing durations.
- This focuses on what medical professionals 'anticipated' rather than what actually happened
- The passage discusses actual outcomes, not expectations
healthcare facilities broadened their range of services to address more varied medical conditions while simultaneously decreasing clinical personnel.
- The passage says nothing about healthcare facilities broadening services or decreasing personnel
- This introduces completely new information not supported by the passage
EHR systems facilitated easier management of complicated medical cases for physicians relative to standard patient appointments.
- This contradicts the passage's emphasis that admin/billing saw the most significant improvements
- If complicated cases were easier to manage, we'd expect diagnosis/treatment efficiency to be highlighted, not admin/billing