Do not prescribe periodic examinations without a specific diagnostic hypothesis.
Prescribing unnecessary tests is detrimental to both patients and the ecosystem, representing a lamentable waste of resources. With the exception of the three oncological screening programs endorsed by the Italian Ministry of Health (breast cancer, cervical cancer,...
Do not use printed medical prescriptions but transmit prescriptions electronically.
In Italy, the National Health Service (NHS) fully or partially covers the costs of medical services and medications for patients who possess a prescription from their General Practitioner (GP). On average, a GP prescribes over 20,000 prescriptions annually, which were...
Don’t request amylase in addition to lipase if acute pancreatitis is suspected.
The diagnosis of acute pancreatitis is based on persistent and severe abdominal pain, high blood lipase or amylase value, and characteristic imaging. Lipase is more sensitive and specific than amylase and remains high longer.
Don’t request erythrocyte sedimentation rate to screen asymptomatic patients or as a general test to look for inflammatory states in patients with undiagnosed conditions.
C-reactive protein (CRP) is more sensitive, specific and rapid in the acute phase of inflammation. CRP should be preferred to detect both the onset and resolution of a systemic inflammatory state.The campaign DOING MORE DOES NOT MEAN DOING BETTER – CHOOSING WISELY ITALY is promoted by Italy’s Slow Medicine
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