Choosing Wisely

About the Choosing Wisely® Campaign

The American Board of International Medicine (ABIM) Foundation launched the Choosing Wisely® campaign to encourage people to learn more about the tests and treatments their healthcare providers might recommend.

Several medical societies have gone through an in-depth review process to identify tests or treatments that may not have enough medical research to show their safety or effectiveness. In some cases, the research may even show unwanted effects for certain procedures.

As part of this work, the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) identified ten treatments that may have more risks than benefits for older people. This is particularly important for older adults. Why? Treatments that may be helpful for younger adults may not be safe or reliable in older people, because of physical changes that take place as we get older.

Check to see if any medications or other treatments you’ve been prescribed are listed below.

Don’t worry if a test or treatment your healthcare provider has recommended is on the Choosing Wisely list, and don’t stop a treatment if it’s on the list. Talk to your healthcare provider and sort it out. The Choosing Wisely campaign’s goal is to start conversations about potentially unnecessary tests or treatments and to empower the public to ask questions when discussing options with healthcare providers.

Just because a test or treatment is listed doesn’t mean it’s unreliable or ineffective for you. Different people respond differently to specific tests, treatments, and procedures; there's no “one-size-fits-all” when it comes to medical care.

Choosing Wisely: 10 Things Physicians and Patients Should Question