Doctors Urge Their Colleagues To Quit Doing Worthless Tests

EssenceEvanston  Dr. Carla Edwards, M.S., Ph.D., L.Ac. 
You think?   Seems like this dialogue should have been started long ago.  We have the technology, the science, the tests, but when and how much should we rely on them for an accurate diagnosis?  As a practitioner and consumer, I understand that the driving force for excessive testing does not necessarily originate with the M.D.'s or other practitioners that have the ability to order tests.

Four other driving forces for excessive medical testing may include:
1)  Patients request more tests be done
2)  Possible threat of litigation if the test profile is not complete and something medically
      unpredicted presents as a health complication
3)  Insurance companies or HMO's require that certain tests be done with ordinary care
4)  Untested, unconfident practitioners

Here is the article as posted with NPR April 4, 2012 8:45AM
by RICHARD KNOX

Link to NY Times article on the topic 

 If it looks like a duck and acts like a duck, it's a duck!

 I am a TCM practitioner and am supposed to "sell" you on the benefits of acupuncture in the context of the overuse of diagnostic tests.  I have seen many patients who come seeking treatment, with a "fistful" of tests, some of which give useful information, but most state the obvious or simply are not useful to help the patient with their problem.  Who ordered these tests and why is usually unclear.  The bottom line is that there is too much information generated at a great cost to someone (eventually all of us).


 TCM is low-tech medicine that does not rely on test to confirm a diagnosis.  Generally, with a short course of acupuncture and herbal medicine, pain and other types of complaints can be reduced or eliminated at a fraction of the cost of surgery or taking pharmaceutical drugs indefinitely.  Lifestyle and nutrition sources of the complaint are also important in examining the root cause of the problem and making adjustments to ensure the problem does not return.  This requires that the patient takes an active role in their health.  Both practitioners from the allopathic and TCM methods of treatment would agree that patient responsibility for their own health is key to maintaining health and vitality.


Cheers!