The Cost of Getting It Wrong

Imagine placing unwavering trust in your healthcare provider, only to discover that the care you're receiving isn’t just subpar — it's costing significantly more. Medical errors, including misdiagnoses, are estimated to cost the U.S. economy between $17 billion and $29 billion annually.  

Misdiagnosis isn’t just a medical mistake — it’s a costly and often life-altering failure. When patients receive outdated or ineffective care, the consequences extend beyond unnecessary treatments; they lead to prolonged suffering, rising healthcare costs, and increased financial strain.

A 2023 Johns Hopkins study found that vascular events, infections, and cancers (collectively known as the "Big Three") account for the majority of serious harms from misdiagnosis. Across all diseases, the average misdiagnosis rate was 11.1%, with some conditions, like spinal abscess, misdiagnosed at staggering rates of 62%, while strokes were missed in 17.5% of cases.

This is where Embold Health makes a difference. Not all doctors follow evidence-based, high-quality healthcare practices, and the risks of poor care are too high to ignore. Embold helps patients and employers navigate this uncertainty by providing access to a high-quality provider network, backed by objective physician performance data.

By leveraging doctor analytics and transparent physician reports, Embold guides people to confidently choose top-performing doctors, reducing misdiagnoses, improving health outcomes, and helping both employers and members avoid unnecessary healthcare costs.

Because when it comes to your health, getting it right the first time matters.

Blind Faith, Costly Consequences

People inherently trust their doctors, but trust alone doesn’t guarantee quality care. The reality is:

• Not all doctors practice the same way. Research shows that healthcare quality can vary, even among highly trained providers within the same specialty.

• Second opinions often reveal misdiagnoses. A Mayo Clinic study found that 88% of patients who sought a second opinion received a new or refined diagnosis - proving that the first doctor isn’t always right.

• No primary care provider means more Emergency Room visits. Without a trusted provider, one ER visit sends an expensive claim to the employer, the health plan, and increases risks for patients.  Practice variation leads to wasteful spending.  

When care quality is inconsistent, the costs add up quickly. Whether it’s the price of traveling for a second opinion, an avoidable ER visit due to lack of a PCP, or needing multiple appointments to solve a problem that should have been addressed in one, the financial and personal toll is steep. Misinformed trust, inconsistent care quality, and inefficient healthcare decisions don’t just hurt individuals, they create unnecessary expenses for employers, insurers, and the entire healthcare system.  

‍Better Doctors, Better Decisions, Better Health

More information doesn’t always mean better decisions. Patients are often left sorting through online reviews, word-of-mouth recommendations, or vague directories, none of which guarantee quality care. What people truly need isn’t just more choices; they need better guidance. Without a clear way to identify top-performing providers, they risk misdiagnoses, unnecessary treatments, and higher healthcare costs.

That’s where Embold Health comes in. We analyze objective clinical data to identify high-performing doctors in every specialty, giving people a clear, reliable way to make informed choices about their care. Instead of relying on reputation or online reviews, Embold directs employees and health plan members to providers who deliver consistently high-quality care.

By making it easy to find and choose the best doctors, Embold helps employers and health plans:

• Reduce unnecessary healthcare costs by steering people to providers who follow best practices.

• Improve outcomes by ensuring employees receive the right care at the right time.

• Simplify healthcare decisions so people can confidently navigate their options.

The Power of Getting it Right:

The wrong doctor doesn’t just cost money - it costs time, well-being, and trust in the healthcare system. A misdiagnosis can mean unnecessary treatments, prolonged suffering, and repeat visits that drive up expenses for individuals, employers, and health plans. The reality is that when employees struggle to find high-quality providers, the entire system pays the price.

That’s why making quality medical care simple and accessible is so important. When employees are empowered to choose data-backed providers, they avoid the need for second opinions, unnecessary ER visits, and ineffective treatment plans.

Better care starts with better access, and employers play a crucial role in making that happen. Embold is redefining healthcare decision-making by putting provider quality at the center of every decision. Through AI-powered search tools, text-based recommendations, and a seamless digital experience, we eliminate the guesswork and steer employees toward better care. The result? Lower costs, healthier employees, and a healthcare system that works smarter, not harder.

Start making smarter healthcare decisions today. Learn more at emboldhealth.com/demo.