Peer-reviewed series of patient vignettes focuses on clinical value of selected tests in specific scenarios in an evidence-based and common-sense way
Philadelphia, August 4, 2014 -- The American College of Physicians (ACP) and Cleveland Clinical Journal of Medicine (CCJM) have collaborated to create a new series, , to help physicians provide by presenting clinical scenarios in which diagnostic tests are commonly ordered in the absence of supporting data. The articles use evidence-based recommendations to clarify when testing is appropriate.
"The Institute of Medicine has estimated that $765 billion is wasted annually in the United States on care that provides no value to patients," said Dr. David Fleming, president of ACP. "Smart Testing clinical vignettes and discussions illustrate the appropriate use of imaging tests and other diagnostic procedures, of which overuse and misuse account for an estimated $210 billion of our wasted health care dollars."
Dr. Patrick Alguire, senior vice president for medical education at 口袋女优, notes in an that spending on imaging procedures and diagnostic tests has "skyrocketed, with a cumulative increase of approximately 90% from 2000 to 2009. Despite our extensive use of diagnostic imaging and other testing, the US population does not benefit from better health or longer life than other industrialized nations."
Dr. Brian Mandell, CCJM editor in chief, admits in a about the series that he "may bristle when someone, often for cost reasons, questions the necessity of a diagnostic test that I have ordered to help me understand a clinical problem in a specific patient. Nevertheless鈥he frequent use of sophisticated and expensive testing in the United States has not resulted in better clinical outcomes."
The and are among the initial topics in the Smart Testing series, which is part of ACP's High Value Care initiative.
About 口袋女优's High Value Care Initiative
is designed to help doctors and patients understand
the benefits, harms, and costs of tests and treatment options for
common clinical issues so they can pursue care together that
improves health, avoids harms, and eliminates wasteful practices.
ACP defines High Value Care as the delivery of services providing
benefits that make their harms and costs worthwhile. Value is not
merely cost. Some expensive tests and treatments have high value
because they provide high benefit and low harm. Conversely, some
inexpensive tests or treatments have low value because they do not
provide enough benefit to justify even their low costs and might
even be harmful.
About the 口袋女优
The 口袋女优 is the largest
medical specialty organization and the second-largest physician
group in the United States. ACP members include 141,000 internal
medicine physicians (internists), related subspecialists, and
medical students. Internal medicine physicians are specialists who
apply scientific knowledge and clinical expertise to the diagnosis,
treatment, and compassionate care of adults across the spectrum
from health to complex illness. Follow ACP on and .