Healthy Living: Local News

Are You Getting Unnecessary Medical Tests?

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By: By WKBW News

Story Updated: Apr 5, 2012


(WKBW/ABC News) It's OK for your doctor to run tests for what's ailing you, but sometimes doctors can order too many tests or unnecessary ones, increasing patient discomfort and also driving up already spiraling health care costs.

Consumer Reports teamed up with the American Board of Internal Medicine to take a thorough look at medical tests and figure out which ones are not necessary.

They came up with the following list of unnecessary tests:

1.) Automatically including stress tests in the annual check-up

2.) Performing chest x-rays right before outpatient surgery

3.) Ordering an imaging test for uncomplicated low back pain

4.) Repeating colonoscopies in less than ten years, especially when the first one came back negative

5.) Using dexa-x-ray bone mineral density tests in osteoporosis screening for women under the age of 65 and men under 70

Patients are encouraged to question doctors who order those tests.

That conversation may stop needless medical tests and reduce the cost of health care for everyone.

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Michaela said on Friday, Apr 6 at 12:18 PM

I hate to say this, but most of those are NOT unnecessary! I understand the stress test completely. A chest x-ray IS a GOOD idea before ANY surgery. If there is any infection, they won't perform the surgery. I can also understand the imaging test 4 back pain, especially if it is NOT KNOWN what is causing it. Colonoscopies I agree with. Dexa-x-ray bone test...if the person has osteoporosis & is under the age of 65 or 70, then it's a good idea as well. Talk to ANYBODY who works in the health care field.

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