Since 2012, the “Choosing Wisely” campaigns conducted around the world have aimed to help doctors and patients discuss medical procedures that may be unnecessary and potentially harmful to the patient. Some believe, however, that the noble intentions of the “Choosing Wisely” campaign are unfortunately doomed to failure, and that this approach—centered on shared decision-making with the patient—will not be enough to counter all the perverse incentives leading to overmedicalization.
In response to these challenges, experts within the movement have developed an action plan, including the creation of a “toolkit” to help healthcare providers develop implementation strategies and put corrective measures into practice. Among these measures is the introduction of a curriculum focused on overmedicalization, designed for trainees and residents in medical education. The General Internal Medicine Department at Hôpital de la Tour has decided to take a pioneering role by incorporating this training for its resident physicians. Pre- and postgraduate medical education appears to have a particularly positive impact on reducing unnecessary procedures. The earlier this education begins, the more significant the long-term effect. Studies have indeed shown that physicians trained in centers committed to high-value care tend to practice more rational medicine after their residency, underscoring the importance of our training for the physicians of tomorrow.
Prof. Dr. med. Omar Kherad, MPH, Chief of the Department of Internal Medicine, Quality Manager