Too much of a good thing? ACOG’s choosing wisely list

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has issued a list of 5 procedures that may be overused by ob/gyns.

The list was released on February 21, 2013, as part of Choosing Wisely, an initiative of the ABIM Foundation, an arm of the American Board of Internal Medicine. The goal of Choosing Wisely, according to ABIM, is “to promote conversations between physicians and patients by helping patients choose care that is supported by evidence, not duplicative of other tests or procedures already received, free from harm, and truly necessary.”

ABIM asked national organizations representing medical specialties to identify 5 commonly ordered tests or procedures in their field that may be overused or unnecessary.

ACOG recommends that patients question:

--Elective, non-medically indicated induction of labor or cesarean delivery before 39 weeks 0 days gestational age.

--Elective, non-medically indicated induction of labor between 39 weeks 0 days and 41 weeks 0 days unless the cervix is deemed favorable.

--Routine annual cervical cytology screening (Pap tests) in women aged 30–65.

--Treating mild dysplasia that has lasted less than 2 years.

-- Screening for ovarian cancer in asymptomatic women at average risk.

Choosing Wisely is part of an effort by the ABIM Foundation and its partners to help physicians be better stewards of finite healthcare resources, according to the Choosing Wisely website.

Twenty-one societies released Choosing Wisely lists in 2013. In addition to ACOG, some of these include the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Surgeons, the American Society for Radiation Oncology, and the American Urological Association.