Unnecessary Medical Screening Tests

PGY1 PGY2 PGY3 PGY4

I would like to quote this again from Dr. Oslser “The good physician treats the disease; the great physician treats the patient who has the disease”.  Are we following him? We did not go to medical school to being uncomfortable, we went to medical school to be comfortable , but I don’t think that we are doing right for our patients. AEM published “Emergency Physician Perceptions of Medically Unnecessary Advanced Diagnostic Imaging” one year ago.  Among 478 physicians, over 85% of EPs believe too many diagnostic tests are ordered in their own EDs, and 97% said at least some of the advanced imaging studies they personally order are medically unnecessary. Why? I have a long list to discuss, but are we good or great?

Link to article