The Choosing Wisely Campaign and Healthcare Quality
The Choosing Wisely campaign is an initiative led by the ABIM Foundation that encourages physicians and patients to engage in conversations about unnecessary medical tests, treatments, and procedures. It is an important concept for CPHQ candidates to understand within the context of appropriate resource utilization.
Origins and Purpose
Launched in 2012, Choosing Wisely was created in response to growing evidence that a significant portion of healthcare services provide little or no benefit to patients and may even cause harm. The campaign asks medical specialty societies to identify commonly used tests and procedures within their specialty that are not supported by evidence. Each participating society publishes a list of "Things Providers and Patients Should Question," creating a foundation for informed discussions about care.
Impact on Quality Improvement
Choosing Wisely has influenced quality improvement by providing evidence-based targets for reducing overuse. Quality professionals can use Choosing Wisely recommendations to identify opportunities for improvement, develop clinical decision support tools, and measure adherence to appropriate use criteria. Many organizations have incorporated Choosing Wisely recommendations into their quality dashboards and improvement priorities.
Implementation Strategies
Successful implementation of Choosing Wisely recommendations requires a combination of provider education, clinical decision support, feedback on ordering patterns, and patient engagement. Quality professionals play a key role in analyzing utilization data, identifying areas of overuse, designing interventions, and measuring the impact of changes. Importantly, the goal is to reduce unnecessary care while ensuring that patients who need tests and treatments continue to receive them.
CPHQ Exam Connection
The CPHQ exam may test your understanding of utilization management concepts, including the difference between overuse, underuse, and misuse of healthcare services. Choosing Wisely exemplifies efforts to address overuse. Be familiar with how quality professionals can use such initiatives to drive evidence-based care and reduce waste without compromising patient outcomes.