Choosing Wisely releases 90 new tests and treatments to question

Today the Choosing Wisely® campaign released an additional 18 lists of tests or procedures to question, highlighting potentially unnecessary — sometimes harmful — care provided in the United States.

More than 130 tests and procedures to question have been released as part of the ABIM Foundation’s Choosing Wisely® campaign, which aims to spark conversations between patients and physicians about what care is really necessary.

Each specialty society participating in Choosing Wisely identified five specific tests or procedures that are commonly done in their profession, but whose use should be questioned.

In addition to NBCH, coalitions that have joined Choosing Wisely to help disseminate information and educate patients on making wise decisions, include the Midwest Business Group on Health, Minnesota Health Action Group and the Pacific Business Group on Health.

Organizations Team Up to Help Physicians, Patients "Choose Wisely"

In the field of medicine, the customer is not always right, but that doesn't necessarily stop physicians from ordering tests and procedures that may not be strictly medically indicated.

Recognizing this problem, the AAFP has joined with 10 other organizations in the Choosing Wisely campaign, which is designed to develop a series of evidence-based lists of medical tests, procedures and other services that patients and physicians should question. Originally piloted by the National Physicians Alliance, the goal of the lists is to help physicians and patients think and talk about overuse or misuse of health care resources.

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