Delayed diagnostics can have several adverse effects:
1. Disease Progression: Conditions like cancer can progress to more advanced stages, reducing the efficacy of treatment options and lowering survival rates. 2. Patient Anxiety: Waiting for diagnostic results can cause significant stress and anxiety for patients and their families. 3. Increased Healthcare Costs: Delays can lead to more complicated and expensive treatments due to disease progression. 4. Misdiagnosis: In some cases, delays can lead to misdiagnosis or underdiagnosis, resulting in inappropriate treatment plans.
