RT Journal
A1 Webster JR
T1 COst of health care and the role of physicians—reply
JF JAMA
JO JAMA
YR 2012
FD March 28
VO 307
IS 12
SP 1253
OP 1253
DO 10.1001/jama.2012.355
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.2012.355
AB 
In Reply: Dr Baral is correct in her assessment that many improved technologies and medicines, although costly, are effective. However, the key is to use them at the right time, in the right way, and for the right patient. To use the example she cites, for patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, angioplasties are lifesaving, preserve heart muscle, and thus reduce the risk of future congestive heart failure, and are almost always considered appropriate.1 However, only 50% of non–acute percutaneous coronary interventions are clearly appropriate,1 representing a costly misuse of medical resources.