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Something I found interesting:
http://www.abimfoundation.org/News/ABIM-Foundation-News/2012/Choosing-Wisely.aspx
In my (very) limited exposure, it seems like this is a topic that is being emphasized much more in the recent years. I remember (as an RT) when I first heard attendings start lecturing to students/residents about financial costs vs. possible medical benefits of tests. I'm sure this is, in part, due to the state of our healthcare system, but it also just makes sense. I remember one intensivist that I used to work with, that was particularly tuned into this concept. A student would suggest a test during rounds, which would lead into a conversation about what good that test would do... would the results actually change the plan? If it costs money, is invasive and isn't going to effect the treatment plan, why should we do it?
This same topic has come up in some of our small groups as well, although I think that was more a function of our facilitator than the set curriculum. "If you have a patient with all of the signs/symptoms of congestive heart failure, do you really need a BNP?" That kind of thing.
I'm sure that there is a lot of these discussion in anesthesia in regards to pre-op testing. I know that this topic has come up before, but I'd be interested to know what people are doing now. Maybe some more experienced participants can provide an example of a preop patient that might have a borderline reason to get a certain test, and then discuss the reasoning behind ordering it/not ordering it? If that doesn't work, any other discussions on it would be interesting.
Other various questions, if anybody wants to discuss:
Do you think that this will become a bigger aspect in the practice of medicine?
Do you think that payors will stop paying for many of these "unneeded" diagnostic tests?
Who decides that a test is "unneeded"?
For those of you in PP, is your group addressing these concerns, trying to minimize costs?
Does it really even affect you, or does it just affect the hospital?
Thanks!
http://www.abimfoundation.org/News/ABIM-Foundation-News/2012/Choosing-Wisely.aspx
In my (very) limited exposure, it seems like this is a topic that is being emphasized much more in the recent years. I remember (as an RT) when I first heard attendings start lecturing to students/residents about financial costs vs. possible medical benefits of tests. I'm sure this is, in part, due to the state of our healthcare system, but it also just makes sense. I remember one intensivist that I used to work with, that was particularly tuned into this concept. A student would suggest a test during rounds, which would lead into a conversation about what good that test would do... would the results actually change the plan? If it costs money, is invasive and isn't going to effect the treatment plan, why should we do it?
This same topic has come up in some of our small groups as well, although I think that was more a function of our facilitator than the set curriculum. "If you have a patient with all of the signs/symptoms of congestive heart failure, do you really need a BNP?" That kind of thing.
I'm sure that there is a lot of these discussion in anesthesia in regards to pre-op testing. I know that this topic has come up before, but I'd be interested to know what people are doing now. Maybe some more experienced participants can provide an example of a preop patient that might have a borderline reason to get a certain test, and then discuss the reasoning behind ordering it/not ordering it? If that doesn't work, any other discussions on it would be interesting.
Other various questions, if anybody wants to discuss:
Do you think that this will become a bigger aspect in the practice of medicine?
Do you think that payors will stop paying for many of these "unneeded" diagnostic tests?
Who decides that a test is "unneeded"?
For those of you in PP, is your group addressing these concerns, trying to minimize costs?
Does it really even affect you, or does it just affect the hospital?
Thanks!
