CHOOSING WISELY
Campaign encourages conversations
about low value tests, procedures
I
s there a test that you order
simply because your patients
expect it?
Well, you are not alone. And
for that reason, an educational
campaign has been launched this
month to kickstart conversations
between physicians and patients
with the goal of avoiding ordering
overused tests and procedures that
may be unnecessary and in some
cases, even harmful.
The Choosing Wisely Canada campaign is modeled on a U.S crusade
which has been in operation since
April 2012 as an initiative of the
American Board of Internal Medicine Foundation.
This is a physician-led
activity, which is great
because it has credibility
with other physicians and
the public.
To date, the U.S. campaign has
identified more than 220 tests and
procedures that may not be necessary, with 60 medical societies and
16 consumer groups signing onto
the effort.
In Canada, eight medical societies,
including the Canadian Society of
Internal Medicine and the Canadian Cardiovascular Society have
joined the campaign, so far. Each
society has come up with a list of
five tests, treatments or procedures
in their own disciplines for which
there is excellent evidence of overuse, waste and harm. Twenty other
medical societies are also working
on coming up with their list of five
things.
Choosing Wisely Canada has been
spearheaded by Dr. Wendy Levinson, Chair of the Department
of Medicine at the University of
Toronto and the Canadian Medical
Association. Dr. Levinson spoke
with Dialogue about the campaign.
Dr. Wendy Levinson
Q: What has been the response to
Choosing Wisely from doctors?
A: In the States it was all positive
– the fact that 60 medical societies
have participated is remarkable. In
Canada, we have had a similar outpouring of support. Many societies
called and emailed us wanting to
join. I have not needed to go and
beat the bushes. Nor has the CMA.
Many Canadian physicians are
members of the American counterpart society, so they already knew
about it. Physicians know that there
are some things in their practice
that don’t add value and this is a
physician-led activity, which is great
because it has credibility with other
physicians and the public.
Q: Why is this campaign needed?
A: We’ve developed into a “more
is better” culture – doctors order
DIALOGUE • Issue 1, 2014
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