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Nine physician specialty societies collectively representing about 375,000 physicians nationwide released a list of five procedures or tests for each of the nine specialties that they think their colleagues should think twice before ordering. Information like this affects Seniors everywhere, including San Diego County. In-home caregivers, whether family members or professional caregivers provided by private duty in-home care agency companies like A Servant’s Heart, should stay up to date on developments like this in order to be aware of such trends that affect the elders that they are protecting and serving.
Examples of tests and procedures identified by the groups as being overused without necessarily benefiting patients (or the healthcare system) included the following:
- Screening for osteoporosis with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry in women under 65 and men under 70
- CT scans or antibiotics for chronic sinusitis
- Chest X-rays prior to outpatient surgery when the patient has an unremarkable history and physical exam
- Routine cancer screenings for dialysis patients with short life expectancies or no symptoms of cancer
Read more: Doc groups pinpoint top sources of unnecessary care
