A physician makes the case for some routine labs

Many medical organizations have recently been promoting focused and individualized lab testing for routine screening or when pursuing a diagnosis. Research has shown that the “shotgun” approach to lab testing usually leads to further invasive testing which has not been proven to significantly alter morbidity or mortality. Additionally, tests rely on pre-test probabilities and can have false-positive or negative results and even lead to adverse events from the follow-up testing. In response to this, medical organizations have created many resources to help educate and guide physicians from over-testing. The American College of Physicians (ACP) created a high-value care subdivision that discusses many evidence-based approaches to provide the best possible care while reducing unnecessary costs. The American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) created Choosing Wisely which is a resource in which many medical organizations create evidence-based suggestions to help guide patient care. For example, in Choosing Wisely, the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) recommends not repeating hepatitis C viral load testing outside of antiviral therapy. The American College of Rheumatology recommends not testing for ANA sub-serologies if the ANA is not positive and there is low clinical evidence or suspicion of immune-mediated disease. Continue reading ... Your patients are rating you online: How to respond. Manage your online reputation: A social media guide. Find o...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - Category: General Medicine Authors: Tags: Conditions Gastroenterology Hospital-Based Medicine Primary Care Source Type: blogs