CHOOSING WISELY CANADA
Past-president discusses
Choosing Wisely Canada
By Dallas Carpenter
F
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ew people in the health care system realize the importance of system transformation better than physicians.
Saskatchewan’s physicians are under pressure to serve a
growing and aging population. As they are focussed on
delivering excellent care for their patients, physicians are
constantly looking for ways to improve and deliver the care
their patients deserve. However, they are also under pressure to be mindful of budget constraints and to participate
in campaigns to find systemic efficiencies.
Physicians across the country are facing the same challenges,
prompting Dr. Wendy Levison, Chair of Choosing Wisely
Canada, the Canadian Medical Association and several
specialist medical societies to launch the Choosing Wisely
Canada (CWC) program in April. CWC is focussed on assisting
physicians to deliver the highest quality of care, analyzing
and evaluating options that deliver the best outcomes for
patients.
CWC is also designed to assist physicians in communicating
with patients about tests and diagnostic procedures which
can help avoid needless tests, false-positive results and
needless worry for patients and their families.
Dr. Clare Kozroski, past-president of the SMA, has a busy
family practice in Gull Lake, Saskatchewan. As an early proponent of CWC, Dr. Kozroski knows that the recommendations and guidelines promoted by the program will make a
positive difference for physicians and their patients.
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