Choosing Wisely turns 5!

Happy 5th anniversary to the

#ChoosingWisely campaign

The Choosing Wisely campaign turned 5 on April 4, 2017, and we’re doing all we can to celebrate smart conversations between patients and providers:

1. Seeking Choosing Wisely patient champions.
2. Publishing stories from healthcare providers.
3. Releasing a new video.
4. Tweeting about it.
5. Doing a little dance.

Meet the Consumer Reports' Choosing Wisely team (left to right):  
David Ansley, Yelena Dasher (no longer with us), Dom Lorusso,
Claudia Citarella, Beccah Rothschild

For 5 years Daniel Wolfson (ABIMF) @WolfsonD 
& Tara Montgomery @TaraCivicHealth 
have provided stellar #choosingwisely leadership. 

About the Choosing Wisely campaign

Family doctors know that many patients get unneeded prescriptions. Obstetricians know that too many babies are delivered by C-section. Radiologists have seen a lot of pointless chest X-rays. Blood tests, EKGs, Pap tests and MRIs all are overused.

In fact, when doctors sit down with the medical evidence within their specialties, hundreds of tests and treatments turn out to be frequently unnecessary, duplicative or even harmful.

For the U.S. health system as a whole, it means 30 percent of medical spending is wasted.

For patients? It means their time, energy and money could have been focused on smarter, safer, and more effective care.

The Choosing Wisely campaign aims to help patients and doctors talk about what’s truly needed. The ABIM Foundation has joined with more than 70 medical specialty societies to develop evidence-based lists of tests and procedures that should be questioned.

And as a partner in that effort, Consumer Reports has created more than 120 free brochures for patients and their families, addressing the most common of these concerns. We also have free posters, videos, rack cards, and wallet cards that help people ask their healthcare providers the right questions.

To distribute this material, CR has engaged with more than 50 organizations across the country, who help share it with yet more patients and families.

For Smarter Healthcare, Ask Your Doctor These 5 Questions

The #choosingwisely team here at CR wants to remind you to always ask the 5 questions! http://

bddy.me/2d0GzWc 

ConsumerHealthChoices.org / David Ansley

These question can help you avoid unnecessary tests, medications, and procedures.

Before you get any test or treatment, ask your doctor these five questions. Why? Because some medical tests, medications, and procedures may not be right for you. A conversation with your doctor helps you avoid unnecessary, duplicative, or overly risky care.

What to Ask

1. Do I really need this test or procedure?
2. What are the risks and side effects?
3. Are there simpler, safer options?
4. What happens if I don't do anything?
5. How much does it cost, and will my insurance pay for it?

One Family's Story About Asking Questions

When Randi O. brought her 79-year-old father to the emergency room, fearing that he had suffered a stroke, it led to an important discovery: Don't be afraid to ask the hard questions. 

We'll Send You a Copy

To get a free copy of the 5 Questions to Ask Your Doctor wallet card, send an email to healthimpact@cr.consumer.org with your name and address.

More About Choosing Wisely

For details about needed (and unneeded) care in more than 100 situations, here is more information about the Choosing Wisely campaign. 

Join Our Campaign

To support our social media campaign, email a selfie you've taken of yourself with the wallet card. Send it to healthimpact@cr.consumer.org.