Not every test and procedure is appropriate for a particular condition, says a coalition including 41 medical organizations. The campaign known as Choosing Wisely has updated its list of tests and procedures that patients and doctors should discuss thoroughly because they may not be necessary
Not every test and procedure is appropriate for a particular condition, says a coalition including 41 medical organizations. The campaign known as Choosing Wisely has updated its list of tests and procedures that patients and doctors should discuss thoroughly because they may not be necessary.
In April 2012, the Choosing Wisely campaign—launched by American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM)—first began encouraging health practitioners and their patients to examine the usefulness of certain medical tests and procedures, with an eye to costs of health care and patient health. Initially, the campaign released 5 guidelines apiece from 9 medical specialties. They focused on common tests that are often administered without any obvious benefit to patient care.
More than 35 medical specialties have since joined the campaign. In February, 17 of them each released lists of 5 tests and procedures both doctors and patients should question. In all, these lists include 90 common, often unnecessary tests and procedures, including some many doctors might order for patients without symptoms. Consumer Reports Health and 14 other organizations including AARP and the National Partnership for Women and Families are disseminating the lists. Among the laboratory tests included in the lists are:
- Repetitive complete blood count (CBC) and chemistry testing in hospital patients with previous results that are stable; they may experience changes in hemoglobin and hematocrit levels from frequent blood draws that can contribute to anemia.
- Preoperative laboratory tests for healthy patients undergoing elective surgery
- Cervical cancer screening for women younger than 21 and those who have had total hysterectomies
- Human papilloma virus (HPV) tests for women younger than 30
- Vitamin D deficiency screening for low-risk patients
- Bleeding time tests,