Having a Healthy Conversation

Capital Health’s Appropriateness of Care initiative is about making sure patients get the right care, at the right time and in the right amount. It’s about centering the focus on the conversation between doctors and patients around what’s appropriate, what could be potentially harmful and what’s overused and isn’t going to benefit the patient.

We are working to supplement our work in this area through the Choosing Wisely Canada campaign. Modeled after a successful US initiative, Choosing Wisely Canada is designed to encourage awareness and discussion between doctors and patients about unnecessary tests, procedures and treatments. At a system level, every resource consumed unnecessarily prevents us from helping patients in other areas.

Doctors Nova Scotia, the Department of Health and Wellness and teaching faculty at the Dalhousie Faculty of Medicine Continuing Professional Development  are working in partnership with Capital Health caregivers to share this campaign with health organizations across the country and challenge the philosophy that more medical intervention is necessarily better.

“When a physician orders a test, treatment or procedure, it must be based on evidence, minimize potential harm to the patient and have the potential to add value,” said Dr. Sam Campbell, Site Chief of Emergency Medicine, QEII Health Sciences Centre. “More is only better when it refers to more careful and critical thought about every test or procedure that we subject our patients to, ensuring that the patient benefits from every decision we make and that it outweighs the risks and the resources needed to carry it out.” Dr. Samuel Campbell, Chief, Charles V. Keating Emergency Trauma Centre QEII Health Sciences Centre.

Be Sure to Ask

The best health care starts with a good conversation. There are many tests, treatments and procedures in modern medicine. But just because they are available doesn’t mean it’s appropriate for everyone. Learn more about what to ask your doctor.

Have a healthy conversation with your doctor today. Ask your doctor these questions:

• Do I really need this test, treatment or procedure?
• What are the downsides?
• Are there simpler, safer options?
• What happens if I do nothing?

Resources

In addition to talking to you doctor, there are other online resources for you to learn more about the Choosing Wisely Canada campaign.

• Patient education materials
• Choosing Wisely Canada
• Doctors Nova Scotia
• Choosing Wisely
• Less is more medicine