The term 'as-needed' describes a course of action, typically involving medication, care, or resources, that is implemented only when a specific situation or symptom arises. It signifies a flexible and responsive approach, providing support or intervention based on immediate requirements rather than a predetermined schedule or constant application. This strategy allows for individualized care, resource optimization, and addresses problems only when they manifest, offering a personalized experience to a situation while minimizing unnecessary or potentially unwanted effects or interventions. The central concept emphasizes response to the particular needs of a situation as they unfold.
As-needed meaning with examples
- The doctor prescribed pain medication on an as-needed basis. If the patient experienced significant discomfort after surgery, they could take a dose to manage the pain. This approach minimized daily drug consumption and side effects and prioritized addressing pain only when it interfered with daily activities. It also enabled individualized care to fit the patient's pain tolerance and needs.
- The emergency services dispatcher instructed callers to take the rescue team to the patient as-needed. When a caller mentioned difficulties breathing the patient, they would send an ambulance. This strategy allowed emergency responders to prioritize critical cases and allocate resources efficiently, helping them minimize response times where help was requested.
- The software update process allowed installations on an as-needed schedule. This approach allowed companies to prioritize updates to specific software components, enabling teams to choose when and which new version to update the software, ensuring that all systems and end-user systems continued to work without disruptions or any interruptions.
- The project manager scheduled team meetings on an as-needed basis, calling the meetings whenever issues arose that needed immediate collaborative discussion and problem-solving. This kept meetings concise and productive, avoiding wasted time discussing irrelevant topics when no issues were present, or when discussion or intervention was not needed.
- The hospital maintained a supply of specialized bandages on an as-needed basis. Nurses would use those bandages only when patients presented with a particular wound type that required them. This approach minimized waste and ensured that the appropriate resources were readily available for use without excess inventory storage issues, while adapting quickly to the number and type of patient needs.