Improving the Appropriate Use of MRI for Lower Back Pain

Do MRIs (or X-rays or CT scans) speed up patients’ recovery from lower back pain?
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A checklist to help answer if a lower back MRI / CT is recommended or not.
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Identifying Low Back Pain, common causes, treatments, preventions and exercises.
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Improving Appropriate Testing

Unnecessary thyroid testing is leading to overtreatment in the province of Manitoba.
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Even a good test can be done too often.
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Antimicrobial Stewardship Resources

A printable patient poster explaining how half of all antibiotic prescriptions are unnecessary.
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Antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest threats to human health worldwide. The overuse of antibiotics is a major contributor to antibiotic resistance and is threatening our ability to treat common infectious diseases.
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A quick assessment that can help reduce the prescription of unnecessary antibiotics, while helping the patient understands their use.
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When you need them–and when you don’t.
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When you need them–and when you don’t.
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A guide on when to take and when not to take antibiotics if you have a respiratory infection.
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A guide on when to take and when not to take antibiotics if you have a respiratory infection.
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Both urinary catheters and ulcer drugs are over-used in hospitals. And both increase the risk of infection.
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Both urinary catheters and ulcer drugs are over-used in hospitals. And both increase the risk of infection.
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Sinus infections almost always stem from a viral infection, not a bacterial one - and antibiotics don’t work against viruses.
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Sinus infections almost always stem from a viral infection, not a bacterial one - and antibiotics don’t work against viruses.
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A quick assessment that can help reduce the prescription of unnecessary antibiotics, while helping the patient understands their use.
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Toolkits
Need change ideas or help with your Choosing Wisely implementation project? Check out Choosing Wisely Canada’s downloadable toolkits developed by clinicians who have successfully implemented Choosing Wisely recommendations in their setting.
Resources for Patients

Back pain can be excruciating, but an imaging test may not be the best care option.
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Back pain can be excruciating, but an imaging test may not be the best care option.
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Staying in bed won't help you get better faster.
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Do MRIs (or X-rays or CT scans) speed up patients’ recovery from lower back pain?
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When you need them–and when you don’t.
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When you need them–and when you don’t.
View this Resource

Both urinary catheters and ulcer drugs are over-used in hospitals. And both increase the risk of infection.
View this Resource

Both urinary catheters and ulcer drugs are over-used in hospitals. And both increase the risk of infection.
View this Resource

Next time you see your health care provider, talk about what you need, and what you don't.
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A guide on when to take and when not to take antibiotics if you have a respiratory infection.
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Most healthy people don’t need the tests, especially before low-risk surgery. Find out why.
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Most women ages 21 to 69 need regular Pap tests. But teenage girls and older women usually don’t need them. Learn why.
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Sinus infections almost always stem from a viral infection, not a bacterial one - and antibiotics don’t work against viruses.
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Do I really need antibiotics? What are the risks? Are there simpler, safer options?
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There are many ways to manage pain. Talk to your doctor about the safest option.
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Many people don’t have enough vitamin D in their bodies. But many people do not need the test. Find out why.
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Do healthy people need annual check-ups? Learn more.
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Patient Pamphlets
Choosing Wisely Patient Pamphlets are meant to help patients learn about the tests, treatments, and procedures to question, when they are necessary and when they are not, and what patients can do to improve their health.