Welcome!
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, a nonprofit independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association serving a 31 county area in Upstate New York, has been licensed by Consumer Reports to help educate patients, employers and providers across upstate New York about the importance of the Choosing Wisely recommendations. We are pleased to invite you to explore the health information that this website offers.
Choosing Wisely is an initiative sponsored by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Foundation. Launched in 2012, the program focuses on conversations to ensure that the right care is delivered at the right time. To achieve this, more than 70 medical specialty societies have joined the campaign and have developed more than 400 specific recommendations for care practices that lead more directly to positive health outcomes.
Matthew Bartels, M.D., Medical Director, Health Care Improvement
Consumer Reports® has developed communications materials to help build meaningful discussions between physicians and their patients about the most appropriate options for managing conditions or preventing illness. Excellus BlueCross BlueShield is proud to be joining with Consumer Reports to assist in expanding the awareness of this program.
The Choosing Wisely initiative has important implications for improved patient safety and improved community health. The initiative’s credibility comes in large part from the fact that the recommendations for each point of focus come directly from the Boards of each specialty participating in the program. In other words, these recommendations were researched and developed by physicians for physicians and their patients.
We hope that you find this information on this site useful to “Start the Conversation” about what is the best care for many common conditions.
For more information about this campaign, contact [email protected]
For Patients
Questions to Ask
- Five questions to ask your doctor (poster)
- Five questions to ask your doctor (wallet card)
Medical Tests
- PSA Test for Prostate Cancer (AAFP)
- Screening Tests: When You Need Them, When You Don’t
- Vitamin D Tests (ASCP)
- Asking Questions About Medical Tests
Imaging Tests
- Imaging Tests for Back Pain
- Brain Scans for Head Injuries
- CT Scans for Children With Head Injuries (AAP)
- Imaging Tests for Headaches (ACR)
- Clogged Neck Arteries (AAFP)
- Asking Questions About Imaging Tests
Procedures
Drugs
- Antibiotics: When You Need Them and When You Don’t
- Antibiotics: When You Need Them and When You Don’t (Complete Package)
- 5 Questions to Ask Your Doctor Before You Take Antibiotics
Prevention
- Adult Vaccines: Protect Yourself and Your Family (ACP)
- Take Control of Your Health (ACP)
- Building Healthy Habits
Pregnancy
Doctor/Patient Relationship
Health Insurance Literacy
- Benefits of Health Insurance
- Co-insurance is a Percent
- Co-pays are Fixed Dollar Amounts
- Summary of Benefits and Coverage
En Español
- Pruebas radiológicas debido a dolor en la parte baja de la espalda
- 5 preguntas para hacerle al doctor antes de tomar antibióticos
- Antibióticos: Cuándo se necesitan y cuándo no
- Tratamiento del dolor en la parte baja de la espalda
- Pruebas de imágenes para dolores de cabeza
- Al dar a luz a su bebé
- Pruebas de detección
- Pruebas de Vitamina D
For Employers
Questions to Ask
- Five questions to ask your doctor (poster)
- Five questions to ask your doctor (wallet card)
Medical Tests
- PSA Test for Prostate Cancer (AAFP)
- Screening Tests: When You Need Them, When You Don’t
- Vitamin D Tests (ASCP)
- Asking Questions About Medical Tests
Imaging Tests
- Imaging Tests for Back Pain
- Brain Scans for Head Injuries
- CT Scans for Children With Head Injuries (AAP)
- Imaging Tests for Headaches (ACR)
- Clogged Neck Arteries (AAFP)
- Asking Questions About Imaging Tests
Procedures
Drugs
- Antibiotics: When You Need Them and When You Don’t
- Antibiotics: When You Need Them and When You Don’t (Complete Package)
- 5 Questions to Ask Your Doctor Before You Take Antibiotics
Prevention
- Adult Vaccines: Protect Yourself and Your Family (ACP)
- Take Control of Your Health (ACP)
- Building Healthy Habits
Pregnancy
Doctor/Patient Relationship
Health Insurance Literacy
- Benefits of Health Insurance
- Co-insurance is a Percent
- Co-pays are Fixed Dollar Amounts
- Summary of Benefits and Coverage
En Español
- Pruebas radiológicas debido a dolor en la parte baja de la espalda
- 5 preguntas para hacerle al doctor antes de tomar antibióticos
- Antibióticos: Cuándo se necesitan y cuándo no
- Tratamiento del dolor en la parte baja de la espalda
- Pruebas de detección
- 5 Preguntas Para Hacerle a Su Médico
For Providers
Medical Specialty Society Recommendation Lists
- American Academy of Family Physicians
- The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
- American College of Radiology
- American Gastroenterological Association
- American Society for Clinical Pathology
- Endocrine Society
Screening Tests
- Bone-Density Tests
- Colonoscopy
- Imaging Tests for Headaches
- Pap Tests
- PSA Blood Test
- Screening Tests
- Vitamin D Tests
Back Pain
Maternity/Early Delivery
Palliative Care
Prevention
- Adult Vaccines: Protect Yourself and Your Family
- Building Healthy Habits
- Take Control of Your Health
Sinusitis
En Español