A practicing primary-care physician tells it like it is.

Visit Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog

My take: Just say no to unnecessary tests

Posted on April 30, 2008

This is a piece that I wrote awhile back. I have used some of the article's wording in recently published op-eds. Aren't you are going to order a urine test, chest x-ray or electrocardiogram? The patient before me was a healthy adult I was seeing for a preventive health exam. As a primary care physician, I frequently encounter similar questions. Despite lacking studies suggesting any benefit to ordering these tests in asymptomatic patients, almost half of physicians do so routinely.Our health care system contains a myriad of incentives encouraging rampant testing. One reason is the doctor's...

Original article link


bladder , bladder cancer , breast cancer , cancer , cervical cancer , cholesterol , heart disease , lung , lung cancer