International Top 10 and New Lists from Society Partners

Efforts to curb overuse continue across the globe. Three new Choosing Wisely lists have been introduced during the last few weeks — bringing the total number of societies to release new recommendations in 2017 (so far) to eight.

Choosing Wisely International Top 10 Recommendations

An August 2, 2017, post by the Commonwealth Fund outlined efforts to convene leaders of seven Choosing Wisely campaigns around the world in order to establish a universal list of tests and treatments that might not always be appropriate, and to encourage measurement of how often these tests are ordered. Among the treatments that made the list are imaging for low-back pain, antibiotics for mild-to-moderate sinusitis, benzodiazepines for older adults and stress cardiac imaging.

The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) released first Choosing Wisely list

ACA is the first chiropractic group to join the campaign and recently announced its first list of five tests and procedures commonly ordered but not always necessary in chiropractic care.

“The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) and its members support evidence-informed care as well as shared decision-making between patients and their doctors. For this reason, we are proud to partner with Choosing Wisely in this effort to encourage important conversations between patients and chiropractors that may reduce unneeded or overused services, yielding the best possible patient care,” said ACA President David Herd, DC, in a press release about the new list.

The American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) releases first Choosing Wisely recommendations

APMA announced five foot-and-ankle-related tests and treatments that clinicians and patients should question, including treating uninfected wounds with systemic antibiotics and MRIs to diagnose acute Achilles tendon ruptures and bone infections in the foot.

American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM) announces five more recommendations

AANEM added five more Choosing Wisely recommendations to its list of tests and treatments patients with muscle and nerve disorders should discuss with their doctors. New items to question include B-vitamin supplements for polyneuropathy or neuropathic pain; nerve conduction studies or electromyography for muscle pain; and prescribing opioids or narcotics for neuropathic pain.