Improved patient care through conversations, November 2016

The Physician Alliance along with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan's Resource Stewardship Initiative (RSI) promote the use of evidence-based medicine when making health care stewardship decisions. The RSI encourages conversations between physicians and patients about appropriate and necessary medical care.

When medical procedures are recommended, patients should discuss with their physician the potential risks/benefits of testing to see whether such tests are needed. With appropriate testing a provider can determine the best treatment options for their patients.

Below is a list of helpful dialogue starters to initiate better communication between patients and their health care providers:

• Are there risks involved with a medical procedure?
• Do the benefits of the procedure outweigh the risks?
• What other side effects do I need to be aware of?
• What are the chances of potential inaccurate results?
• Is there a safer option?
• How much does this cost?
• What happens if a procedure is not scheduled?

Check with your health care provider to see if there are recommended lifestyle changes that can be made such as adding daily physical activity or modifying dietary choices to improve overall health. Inform healthcare providers of family history in addition to your own medical history, as it relates to your health.

The Choosing Wisely® campaign, an initiative by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM Foundation) along with Consumers reports, are collaborating to help reduce and avoid any unnecessary medical testing and procedures by promoting conversations between doctors and patients.

This partnership has created patient-friendly materials to promote the recommendations into common dialogue for consumers along with communication education modules to help health care providers communicate with patients regarding the overuse of certain medical tests/procedures. The goal is to improve the quality of care while keeping unnecessary costs down.

This blog is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Please consult with your doctor for more information or if you have a medical concern.

Contributed by The Physician Alliance, one of Michigan’s largest physician organizations serving more than 2,200 physicians in southeast Michigan.

Source: ChoosingWisely.org, ABIM Foundation, and the American Academy of Family Physicians

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