Excerpt
GWEN IFILL (Newshour): ..... a call and a plan to reduce the number of routine medical tests and procedures.
Nine medical specialty groups say many of these tests are unnecessary, costly and even risky. Among the group's recommendations, avoid using X-rays for lower back pain in routine cases. Limit stress tests or EKGs in annual physicals. Cut back on prescribing antibiotics for minor sinus infections. And scale back on treatments even for some cancer patients.
According to some estimates, nearly one-third of the money spent on U.S. health care is devoted to these types of tests, procedures and visits. You can find the rest of the list on our website.
For more on the group's recommendations, we turn to Dr. Glen Stream, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians, and Dr. Eric Topol, a cardiologist and chief academic officer of the Scripps Health system.
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