OnSiteClinics.Org

ABIM and “Choosing Wisely”

This post will have a follow-up in our next newsletter, to provide more extensive commentary.  And, we are delinquent in not picking up on this sooner, the announcement was made last April.  The American Board of Internal Medicine Foundation has established the “Choosing Wisely” web site.   Per the site, “Nine United States specialty societies representing 374,000 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.” (Emphasis added.)

With the assistance of these 9 specialty societies, the ABIM is publishing lists of procedures and tests which fall into this important category on the Choosing Wisely web site.  And, to get the word out to patients, the ABIM has been joined by Consumer Reports who will distribute them in English and in Spanish.

We are confident that your medical directors have already sourced the lists.  The Consumer Report information might make an excellent hand-out or even an on-going informational program for your employees and their dependents.  This is third-party, unbiased information for them to use in making better health care choices.  They provide a newsletter for consumers, as well.