St. Vincent Charity helps to promote new awareness program about unnecessary tests

Better Health Greater Cleveland kicked off regional efforts today to promote awareness and conversations among doctors and patients about tests that are commonly overused and many times unnecessary. The regional program highlights five health care situations that are familiar to thousands of Ohioans, along with the associated tests and treatments that can often be avoided. [more]

This initiative brings together national physician groups to identify specific tests, treatments and procedures that are common and often may not be necessary. Better Health’s Choosing Wisely initiative decided to focus on encouraging conversations about five health care topics that typically are first addresses during a visit to a primary care doctor, including sinus infections, lower back pain, uncomplicated headaches, pap smears, and cardiac-related concerns.

Dr. Srinivas Merugu, primary care physician at St. Vincent Charity Medical Center, is a member of the team of physicians working on this initiative with Better Health Greater Cleveland to educate patients to avoid unnecessary tests and treatments. Listen to the hour-long broadcast on 90.3 WCPN’s Sound of Ideas radio show on the Choosing Wisely initiative.