ABC Radio National’s Health
Report this week included an interesting discussion about a project from the American Board
of Internal Medicine and the ABIM Foundation called
“Choosing Wisely”, where nine leading medical specialty societies in the US
have identified specific tests or procedures that, according to them, are
commonly used but not always necessary. Dr Christine Cassel,
President of the ABIM, said that in the US it was estimated that 30%
of money spent on pathology and other tests could be saved by patients asking
the right questions and doctors ordering the appropriate tests. In
addition, Cassel says that some of these unnecessary tests or
procedures may actually be doing more harm than good.
Each of the nine specialty societies has provided a list of “Five things
physicians and patients should question”. Read more, including
evidence, the lists and potential problems at the Choosing Wisely website.
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