Curbing Health Tests

Amid a growing effort to curb unnecessary health care, a consortium of medical groups is issuing a sweeping set of recommendations to limit commonly overused tests and treatments.  Working in a patient focused setting, I see these tests occur daily... but I also over hear how overused or unnecessary certain tests are according to some healthcare professionals.

The article discusses a list compiled of 90 recommendations designed reduce costs and protect patients from potential harm.  These overused tests range anywhere from electrocardiograms to mammograms. They suggest against doing routine imaging for lower-back pain within the first six weeks unless certain warning signs are present, and don't order annual electrocardiograms, or EKGs, for low-risk patients without symptoms.

The recommendations, spearheaded by the nonprofit ABIM Foundation, part of the American Board of Internal Medicine, were based on the individual medical groups' assessment of existing scientific evidence, according to the foundation. "Our goal is really to get the scientific information out there, the same information in front of the doctor and the patient, so they can have that conversation, particularly so the patient can realize that more is not better," said Christine Cassel, an internist and chief executive of the ABIM Foundation.

The full set of recommendations can be viewed here

This is a great example of more not always being better.  Just because it is offered, it doesn't mean patients always need it, or need it as consistently. I think that as we see the healthcare platform continue to change, less will be offered on a  reoccuring basis in an effort to cut costs.  And that is the argument to this list of recommendations... Is it really about the patients safety, or more so about the cost reductions in an ever changing environment. From a patient persective, I think it would nice to always have the option for the specific test.

Read full article here