The Ontario Association of Radiologists (OAR) has announced its support for the Choosing Wisely Canada (CWC) campaign currently underway to raise awareness about appropriate imaging and stimulate physician/patient dialogue about unnecessary procedures that could lead to excessive radiation exposure. The campaign was launched April 2 by the Canadian Medical Association and is modeled after a similar campaign launched in April 2012 in the United States.
“The OAR has long recognized the critical role of patient and physician dialogue when it comes to making smart decisions to ensure high quality care,” said OAR president Mark Prieditis, MD. “It is imperative to evaluate the criteria for choosing the appropriateness and effectiveness of all diagnostic imaging tests.”
The Canadian Association of Radiology is among eight national medical societies leading the campaign. The organization listed a set of recommendations called “Five Things Physicians and Patients Should Question” identifying procedures and treatments that are either unsupported by evidence or that could lead to unnecessary imaging and consequently exposure.
Those procedures include:
- Criteria for lower back pain
- Minor head trauma
- Uncomplicated headache
- CT for appendicitis in children
- Ankle x-rays in adults
The complete list of recommendations is available at CWC.
