Unnecessary or Harmful Tests and Treatments You May Wish To Avoid

The Dartmouth Atlas of Healthcare and others have estimated that at least 30% of US healthcare spending is unnecessary. The American Board of Internal Medicine, along with nine prominent physician groups, announced on April 4, 2012 released lists of 45 common tests and treatments they say are often unnecessary and may even harm patients. For example the American Board of Family Practice recommended against imaging for low back pain unless red flags are present. Other items on the lists included avoiding antibiotics for most acute mild to moderate sinusitis symptoms, screening EKGs (or other cardiac screenings) in people without symptoms, DEXA screening for osteoporosis in women younger than 65 and many more. For details go to Kaiser Health News—http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Stories/2012/April/04/physicians-unnecessary-treatments.aspx