Groups Urge Caution on 45 Standards of Care

In an effort to promote care that is necessary and supported by evidence, nine physician societies on Wednesday identified a total of 45 tests and treatments they say should be questioned by physicians and patients because of the potential for needless cost, waste, and harm.

The "Choosing Wisely" campaign, launched by the American Board of Internal Medicine, has been seeking consensus on types of care that are overused or unnecessary, but which remain the standard of care in many physician practices.

The nine participating groups are:

• American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
• American Academy of Family Physicians
• American College of Physicians
• American College of Cardiology
• American College of Radiology
• American Gastroenterological Association
• American Society of Clinical Oncology
• American Society of Nephrology
• American Society of Nuclear Cardiology
  

"These societies have shown tremendous leadership in starting a long overdue and important conversation between physicians and patient about what care is really needed," said Christine K. Cassel, MD, ABIM Foundation president and CEO in a prepared statement. "Physicians, working together with patients, can help ensure the right care is delivered at the right time for the right patient."