text: And physicians still tend to practice in the manner they prefer (patterns/volumes of diagnostic testing, variations in treatments). We already know this. But more data collection has done little, if anything, to significantly change these practice preferences. 
  
  Time and time again, context and culture have been identified as the critical determinants. And much of this was discovered long before the advent of high technology and sophisticated analytics. 
  
  I do suggest you look over some of the research from The Dartmouth Institute I cited above. Years of data - same old story. US findings, but one can easily assume Canada is not much different (except for lower volumes due to more restrained capacity). 
  
  There are already systems and administration in health care. If additional administration and data does not improve care or reduce costs, then it represents a dis-economy. It becomes a show piece suggesting greater efficiency or higher quality without the actual outcome.