title: [Choosing Wisely: from theory to practice].
abstract: "Choosing Wisely" is an innovative approach that the Network of Southern Switzerland Public Hospitals has decided to promote. Five standard diagnostic or therapeutic procedures have been chosen to explore the potential benefit of the "Choosing Wisely" initiative: the prescription of benzodiazepines, proton pump inhibitors or antibiotics on discharge from hospital, exposure to ionising radiation in radiological imaging and the number of blood samples taken during hospitalisation. As a first step we compared these variables in the medical and surgical departments of the four major public hospitals in Ticino. We observed significant and unexpected practical differences between specialties and between the different institutions. These results were presented to all concerned healthcare stakeholders. The next steps are to develop continuous monitoring of these indicators and specific recommendations by involving patients in the consciousness-raising process.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gabutti
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pironi
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Della Bruna
authors.forename: Juergen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heinkel
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Clivio
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Greco
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006760:Hospitalization; D006779:Hospitals, Public / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D013557:Switzerland
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors; D001569:Benzodiazepines