A recent Kaiser Health News article http://capsules.kaiserhealthnews.org * noted ” The most frequent reasons that physicians order extraneous—and costly—medical care are fears of being sued, impulses to be extra careful and desires to reassure their own assessments of the patient…,”
“… Choosing Wisely, a two-year old campaign devised by a foundation created by internal medicine doctors… has persuaded nearly 60 medical societies to identify overused tests and procedures. The goal is to cut back on needless medical care, which by some estimates may waste a third of the $2.8 trillion the country spends on health each year.”
“The campaign focuses on encouraging conversations between patients and doctors about the suspect treatments it identifies. In the survey, 47 percent of doctors said one patient a week requests something unnecessary. While most doctors believe they are most responsible for interceding, 48 percent said that when facing an insistent patient, they advise against it but still order the test. Another 5 percent said they just order the test.”
* to read the full KHN article “ Doctors Think Others Often Prescribe Unnecessary Care” by Jordan Rau, highlight and click on open hyperlink http://capsules.kaiserhealthnews.org/index.php/2014/05/doctors-think-others-often-prescribe-unnecessary-care/
Note: This blog shares general information about understanding and navigating the health care system. For specific medical advice about your own problems, issues and options talk to your personal physician.