Choosing Wisely Canada is seeking a patient advisor for Using Labs Wisely

[A Former User]

Laboratory medicine is the single highest volume medical activity. While laboratory findings can provide important diagnostic insights, not all of these tests are needed. Low-value laboratory tests can lead to false positives, unnecessary follow-up referrals, and potentially expose patients to harm — all of which are downstream consequences of low-value care.

Choosing Wisely Canada (CWC), the national voice for reducing unnecessary tests and treatments in health care, is seeking to develop a national strategy to reduce unnecessary lab testing practices. We would like to have one or two patient advisors sit on our Using Labs Wisely Steering Committee to ensure the patient voice is represented, with the ultimate goal of building a patient-centred strategy. The Using Labs Wisely Steering Committee is comprised of experts from a variety of disciplines: implementation science, family medicine, internal medicine, data analytics, medical lab specialists, and relevant medical societies.

The Steering Committee will meet an average of once every two months, perhaps more frequently in the early phases of the campaign, and the expected term would be approximately one year, with the possibility of extension. If you are interested in this opportunity, please reach out to Gillian Hurwitz, Using Labs Wisely project manager by August 16, 2021 : Gillian.Hurwitz@unityhealth.to