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Wellness

Your health and wellness are important to us.

From caregivers and mental health to exercise and weight management assistance, we hope you find these resources as valuable as we do.



Health Education

Are you planning to have a test or procedure but are unsure of what questions to ask your doctor?

The American Board of Internal Medicine, along with Consumer Reports and more than 70 medical specialty societies, launched the Choosing Wisely® campaign with the goal of helping patients ask the right questions and have informed conversations with their doctors about what care is best for them.

Related Downloads:

  • Do You Need That Medical Test or Treatment?

    386 KB

  • 5 Questions to ask your Doctor before you get any Test, Treatment or Procedure

    359 KB


Do You Need That Medical Test or Treatment?*

Medical tests and treatments can be helpful when you really need them. For example, there are times when X-rays, antibiotics, or opioid painkillers may be necessary. It’s important to get them when they clearly will help you. But sometimes doctors recommend things that aren’t needed. Sometimes they do it because their patients expect and ask for them.

Reasons to avoid medical tests and treatments you don’t need:

  • They can harm you.

    X-rays and CT scans expose you to radiation. It’s okay in small amounts, but repeated exposure can cause cancer. Antibiotics can prevent and treat some bacterial infections, but they can have serious side effects. And, taking them when you don’t need them—like for a cold— can cause your body to resist them. Then they won’t work when you do need them.

  • They are expensive.

    Imaging tests like X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, and others can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars, and you may have to pay part of that. Blood tests that you don’t need may not be covered by insurance.

  • They can be a waste of time.

    Every test you get means taking time away from work, school, or family, plus the time and hassle of getting there.

  • They can make you anxious.

    Waiting for test results can lead to unneeded worry.

  • They can lead to more tests.

    False alarms may cause your doctor to order yet more needless tests. Every test increases costs and risks, and may lead to unnecessary procedures and serious complications, including death.

5 Questions to Ask Your Doctor Before You Get Any Test, Treatment or Procedure*

Use these 5 questions to talk to your doctor about which tests, treatments, and procedures you need — and which you don’t need:

  1. Do I really need this test or procedure?

    Medical tests help you and your doctor or other health provider decide how to treat a problem. And medical procedures help to actually treat it.

  2. What are the risks?

    Will there be side effects? What are the chances of getting results that aren’t accurate? Could that lead to more testing or another procedure?Imaging tests like X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, and others can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars, and you may have to pay part of that. Blood tests that you don’t need may not be covered by insurance.

  1. Are there simpler, safer options?

    Sometimes all you need to do is make lifestyle changes, such as eating healthier food or exercising more.

  2. What happens if I don’t do anything?

    Ask if your condition might get worse — or better — if you don’t have the test or procedure right away.

  3. How much does it cost?

    Ask if there are less-expensive tests, treatments or procedures, what your insurance may cover, and about generic drugs instead of brand-name drugs.

*Information provided by ChooseWisely Foundation.