Report targets unnecessary medical tests, procedures.

Although none of the major television networks picked it up, the American Board of Internal Medicine Foundation's release of a new report, listing recommendations for reining in healthcare spending garnered widespread coverage in print and online media outlets. The coverage was optimistic, with nearly all of the news sources noting the substantial increase from last year, in both the number of medical societies participating in the campaign as well as in the number of recommendations listed in the report.

        The Los Angeles Times (2/21, Levey, 692K) reports, "Nearly 100 medical procedures, tests and therapies are overused and often unnecessary," according to a report (pdf) released by the ABIM Foundation. The recommendations were developed by the ABIM's Choosing Wisely campaign, a consortium of medical societies that is working to reduce cost by eliminating the use of unnecessary procedures and services. The societies involved in the campaign include the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), as well as several consumer and industry groups, such as "Consumer Reports, the AARP and the National Business Group on Health."

        The Wall Street Journal (2/21, Wang, Subscription Publication, 2.29M) adds that the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons are also among the groups whose input helped bring about the report's 90 recommendations, which not only provide cost-saving advice but also make safety-improvement suggestions. The Journal quotes ABIM Foundation CEO Christine Cassel as saying, "Our goal is really to get the scientific information out there, the same information in front of the doctor and the patient, so they can have that conversation, particularly so the patient can realize that more is not better."

        All together, USA Today (2/21, Szabo, 1.71M) says Choosing Wisely now comprises 25 medical societies. It "released its first set of recommendations last year, with nine medical groups on board." Recommendations included for the first time in this year's report focus on "obstetrics and pediatrics."

        According to Bloomberg BusinessWeek (2/21, Tozzi, 921K), this year's new suggestions include that children "under age 4 shouldn't get cough or cold medicine, doctors shouldn't induce labor for pregnant women before 39 weeks, and patients with advanced dementia should get oral assistance eating rather than feeding tubes." The guidelines, which "follow 45 other procedures already highlighted last year" are based in part, on research about effective screening and treatment methods.

        Reuters (2/21, Begley) adds that in the report, each medical society also lists five procedures, inherent to their fields, that should be questioned. The AP (2/21, Neergaard) says the lists are aimed at physicians and include "references to published studies. Consumers Reports and other consumer groups are publicizing the information in more patient-friendly terms."

        Modern Healthcare (2/21, Lee, Subscription Publication, 71K) notes that the new recommendations include "waiting six weeks to do imaging for low back pain, unless red flags are present"; avoiding the use of "antibiotics for adenoviral conjunctivitis; and not ordering continuous telemetry monitoring outside of the ICU without using a protocol that governs continuation."