Is That Test Necessary?

Many familiar medical tests and procedures may be unnecessary. When patients are exposed to these practices just because they are customary, health care costs and possible risks rise. That’s the message from the American Board of Internal Medicine. The ABIM Foundation collected recommendations from medical specialty societies for routine diagnostics and treatments that should be questioned by doctors and patients.
Some of the recommendations include no imaging studies for recent-onset lower back pain, no cough and cold medicines for children under four, and no feeding tubes for elderly demented patients. Doctors are advised not to rush to prescribe antibiotics for sinusitis or for swimmers’ ear, and not to do EKG tests for people who do not have heart symptoms. Screening tests such as Pap smears should be done every three years instead of annually. The list includes 90 items.
In general, it makes sense for patients to ask about a test: How will this change my care? They may also want to ask about an expensive or invasive treatment: How else could my condition be managed? To see more resources from the Choosing Wisely campaign, click here.