title: American Geriatrics Society identifies five things that healthcare providers and patients should question.
abstract: Given the American Geriatrics Society's (AGS) commitment to improving health care for older adults by, among other means, educating older people and their caregivers about their health and healthcare choices, the AGS was delighted when, in late 2011, the American Board of Internal Medicine Foundation invited the Society to join its "Choosing Wisely(®) " campaign. Choosing Wisely is designed to engage patients, healthcare professionals, and family caregivers in discussions about the safety and appropriateness of medical tests, medications, and procedures. Ideally, these discussions should examine whether the tests and procedures are evidence-based, whether any risks they pose might overshadow their potential benefits, whether they are redundant, and whether they are truly necessary. In addition to improving the quality of care, the initiative aims to rein in unneeded healthcare spending. According to a 2008 Congressional Budget Office report, as much as 30% of healthcare spending in the United States may be unnecessary.
authors.affiliation: The American Geriatrics Society, New York, NY 10038, USA. mjsamuel@americangeriatrics.org
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods; D006300:Health Services Misuse / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000191:economics* / Q000458:organization & administration; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000191:economics* / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care / Q000191:economics*; D012955:Societies, Medical; D014481:United States