As a general rule, it's safe to assume medical professionals have our best interests at heart. They aren't perfect, though, and neither are we. Choosing Wisely is a web site that can help you make better decisions and save money on unnecessary tests or medications.
Choosing Wisely is a joint campaign between Consumer Reports and the ABIM Foundation, aiming to educate patients and doctors on improving health care by avoiding unnecessary tests, procedures and treatments. You should always be in a partnership with your doctor, and Choosing Wisely aims to ensure it's a productive one.
For example: lots of patients will request antibiotics for certain ailments, even if they're ailments usually caused by viruses, and many doctors will prescribe them. Even with bacterial infections, Choosing Wisely advises that many go away on their own without antibiotics, so you shouldn't push for them if they aren't necessary.
The campaign isn't telling you to ignore the advice of a medical professional—that's irresponsible. It's about starting a dialogue and working together to achieve the results you want, and being a little more informed about common health issues.
Check out the link for more information.
Choosing Wisely | Consumer Health Choices via KevinMD
Photo by streamishmc.
0 comments:
Post a Comment