Choosing Wisely® is a national campaign developed by the ABIM Foundation and supported by leading medical specialty societies to help guide conversations between patients and clinicians about whether a medical test or procedure treatment is truly necessary for the patient.
In Massachusetts, clinicial leaders, patients and consumers, hospitals, medical professional societies, health plans, employers and state agencies are using the Choosing Wisely campaign to raise awareness among both clinicians and patients about the ways they can work together to give and get care that is safe and effective. Visit www.choosingwisely.org for more information and resources.
Visit www.choosingwisely.org to get information and resources, created by Consumer Reports, about common tests and procedures that will help you have these important conversations with your physician.
Choosing Wisely aims to promote conversations between clinicians and patients by helping patients choose care that is:
- Supported by evidence
- Not duplicative of other tests or procedures already received
- Free from harm
- Truly necessary
Below are some fact sheets that seniors and their care takers and families may find most relevant to ensure they get the care they need instead of too much or too little.
Five questions you should ask your doctor.
Providers can use these materials with seniors and their families to:
- Help educate them on how to be an engaged patient and ask questions
- Encourage patients to talk with their doctors about healthcare and what is important to them
- Help educate seniors and their families on different types of tests, procedures and treatments that happen more often than they should and may be the right care at the time.
- Share materials with other clinicians and help spread the word that these resources are available.
- Share these materials with a patients’ clinical care team as appropriate to help medical clinicians understand the importance of having these conversations with patients.
