Things Physicians and Patients Should Question – With Lists From Choosing Wisely

Things Physicians and Patients Should Question | Choosing Wisely.

Ever wonder if a medical test or procedure was right for you?
Maybe you read about it, hear it on the news, or came across it on the Internet.

Here’s Web site that just might help in discussions with your health care provider.

From the Choosing Wisely site

Choosing Wisely® aims to promote conversations between physicians and patients by helping patients choose care that is:

• Supported by evidence
• Not duplicative of other tests or procedures already received
• Free from harm
• Truly necessary

In response to this challenge, national organizations representing medical specialists have been asked to “choose wisely” by identifying five tests or procedures commonly used in their field, whose necessity should be questioned and discussed. The resulting lists of “Five Things Physicians and Patients Should Question” will spark discussion about the need—or lack thereof—for many frequently ordered tests or treatments.

This concept was originally conceived and piloted by the National Physicians Alliance, which, through an ABIM Foundation Putting the Charter into Practice grant, created a set of three lists of specific steps physicians in internal medicine, family medicine and pediatrics could take in their practices to promote the more effective use of health care resources. These lists were first published inArchives of Internal Medicine. 

Recognizing that patients need better information about what care they truly need to have these conversations with their physicians, Consumer Reports is developing patient-friendly materials and is working with consumer groups to disseminate them widely.

Choosing Wisely recommendations should not be used to establish coverage decisions or exclusions. Rather, they are meant to spur conversation about what is appropriate and necessary treatment. As each patient situation is unique, physicians and patients should use the recommendations as guidelines to determine an appropriate treatment plan together.

From the List at Choosing Wisely, by the ABIM Foundation

United States specialty societies representing more than 500,000 physicians developed lists of Five Things Physicians and Patients Should Question in recognition of the importance of physician and patient conversations to improve care and eliminate unnecessary tests and procedures.

These lists represent specific, evidence-based recommendations physicians and patients should discuss to help make wise decisions about the most appropriate care based on their individual situation. Each list provides information on when tests and procedures may be appropriate, as well as the methodology used in its creation.

Choosing Wisely recommendations should not be used to establish coverage decisions or exclusions. Rather, they are meant to spur conversation about what is appropriate and necessary treatment. As each patient situation is unique, physicians and patients should use the recommendations as guidelines to determine an appropriate treatment plan together.

In collaboration with the societies, Consumer Reports has created resources for consumers and physicians to engage in these important conversations about the overuse of medical tests and procedures that provide little benefit and in some cases harm.

Specialty Society Lists of Five Things Physicians and Patients Should Question (for physicians):

• AMDA – Dedicated to Long Term Care Medicine
• American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
• American Academy of Dermatology
• American Academy of Family Physicians
• American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine
• American Academy of Neurology
  and more!

  Download a pdf of all specialty society lists

Patient-Friendly Resources from Specialty Societies and Consumer Reports:

• Allergy tests: When you need them and when you don’t
• Antibiotics: When children need them for respiratory illness
• Bone-density tests: When you need them…
• Cancer care at the end of life: When to choose supportive care
• Chest X-rays before surgery: When you need them…
• Choosing pain relievers with kidney disease/heart problems
• Chronic kidney disease: Making hard choices
• Colonoscopy: When you need it…

and more!

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