American Board Of Internal Medicine Foundation Choosing Wisely
As a patient, you trust your doctor to make the best decisions for your health. However, medical treatments and procedures can be costly, time-consuming, and even harmful if not necessary. That's why the American Board of Internal Medicine Foundation (ABIMF) created the Choosing Wisely campaign in 2012. The campaign aims to promote conversations between patients and doctors about avoiding unnecessary medical tests and treatments.
What is Choosing Wisely?
Choosing Wisely is a campaign that involves over 80 medical societies, representing over 500,000 doctors in the United States. Each society has created a list of five tests, procedures, or treatments that are commonly used but not always necessary. These lists are based on evidence-based research and expert opinions. The goal is to encourage doctors and patients to have conversations about the benefits and risks of each test or treatment and to avoid those that are unnecessary.
Why is Choosing Wisely important?
Choosing Wisely is important because it helps patients and doctors make informed decisions about their healthcare. Unnecessary tests and treatments can lead to additional costs, time, and stress for patients. They can also result in harm, such as infections or complications from surgery. In addition, unnecessary tests and treatments can contribute to the overuse of resources in the healthcare system, leading to higher costs for everyone.
How does Choosing Wisely work?
Choosing Wisely works by encouraging doctors and patients to have conversations about the tests, procedures, and treatments that are being recommended. The campaign provides resources for doctors to help them start these conversations, such as patient-friendly brochures and posters. Patients are encouraged to ask questions about the benefits and risks of each test or treatment and to discuss whether it is truly necessary.
Choosing Wisely is not meant to discourage necessary tests and treatments. Instead, it is meant to encourage conversations that help patients and doctors make informed decisions about their healthcare. In some cases, a test or treatment may be necessary despite the risks or costs. However, in many cases, there may be alternative options that are just as effective but less costly or risky.
Examples of Choosing Wisely recommendations
Each medical society participating in Choosing Wisely has created its own list of recommendations. Here are some examples:
- The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends against routine screening for prostate cancer in men over age 75
- The American College of Radiology recommends against imaging for uncomplicated headache
- The American Society of Clinical Oncology recommends against using advanced imaging such as PET, CT, and radionuclide bone scans in the staging of early prostate cancer at low risk for metastasis
- The American Society of Nephrology recommends against using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in patients with hypertension, heart failure, or chronic kidney disease
How can patients get involved?
Patients can get involved in Choosing Wisely by asking questions about the tests, procedures, and treatments that are being recommended. Some questions to ask include:
- What are the benefits and risks of this test or treatment?
- Are there alternative options that are just as effective but less costly or risky?
- Do I really need this test or treatment?
Patients should also feel free to share their own concerns and preferences with their doctor. For example, if a patient is concerned about the cost of a particular test or treatment, they can discuss this with their doctor and explore alternative options.
Conclusion
The Choosing Wisely campaign is an important initiative that aims to promote conversations between patients and doctors about avoiding unnecessary medical tests and treatments. By working together to make informed decisions, patients and doctors can improve the quality of healthcare and reduce costs for everyone.