The Diagnostics Journey Atlas

Uncovering the value of diagnostics

Building on the current knowledge and personal experiences of people at risk of developing or previously diagnosed with a disease, as well as expert opinions of leading voices in the healthcare ecosystem, the “Diagnostic Journey Atlas” is one of the best resources. This resource paints a picture of how diagnostics deliver meaningful impact to healthcare systems and aid in delivering strong patient outcomes.

With the shared goal of sparking conversation around the true value of diagnostics and the best way to ensure equitable access, the Diagnostic Journey Atlas, through six modules, provides real-world examples of how diagnostics can help lead to improved health outcomes around the world.

The value of diagnostics in the patient journey
If you want to know more about the value of diagnostics and what can be done to ensure appropriate access to diagnostic tools and technologies to aid healthcare institutions in saving lives.

Whether you are going in for a routine medical check-up or experiencing new or recurring symptoms, getting an accurate diagnosis is your first step to your best health outcome. Your diagnostic results will provide you and your healthcare provider with the information to make the best decisions about your next steps in care.

Your diagnostic journey might stop here and not be repeated until your next regular check-up. Check-ups are an essential part of helping you stay healthy, out of the hospital and identifying whether you have disease risk factors that you may not even be aware of.

But this journey might also lead to detecting an imminent threat — for example, the early stages of a developing disease. It continues with other diagnostic interventions that will lead to a diagnosis, a discussion with your physician, selection, adjustment and monitoring of your treatment.

Remember that starting treatment early, when the disease has not yet developed nor spread throughout the body, can significantly impact your health, quality of life, and even your ability to survive.

Most lung cancers are diagnosed when people have symptoms, which means the cancer is at an advanced stage. In the US, lung cancer patients diagnosed at a late stage have only a 5% chance of living five years beyond diagnosis, compared to 56% when the disease has not spread beyond the lungs. Another example is heart failure, which occurs when the heart is not able to pump enough blood. If not diagnosed early, heart failure might lead to severe complications such as heart rhythm problems, kidney damage or failure, liver damage, or heart valve problems.

In other words, early diagnosis and early treatment initiation save lives!