ABIM Foundation Focus – Summer 2016

Welcome to New Board Members and Officers

On July 1, 2016, the ABIM Foundation welcomed Anita Samarth and David Reuben, MD, as new members to its Board of Trustees. New Chair Elizabeth A. McGlynn, PhD, replaces Holly Humphrey, MD, who now assumes the role of Immediate Past Chair. Rounding out the officers are Vice Chair Christine A. Sinsky, MD, and Secretary-Treasurer Gregory P. Poulsen.

New Case Study on Choosing Wisely^®

Co-written by ABIM Foundation Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Daniel Wolfson and Anthony Suchman, MD, MA, FACP, Founder and Senior Consultant, Relationship Centered Health Care, LLC, “Choosing Wisely: A case study of constructive engagement in health policy” (Healthcare, May 2016) details how the Foundation has sought to change attitudes and culture to eliminate unnecessary care and promote the idea that removing waste is an integral component of providing high-quality care. The authors explore how the Choosing Wisely campaign was designed with principles from complexity and self-determination theories to embrace broad engagement guided by simple rules.

Letter From the Foundation

In “The Professor and Professionalism”, ABIM Foundation EVP and COO Daniel Wolfson reflects on a panel discussion he attended about the work of quality improvement pioneer, Avedis Donabedian, his former professor at the University of Michigan.

Choosing Wisely Champions

The American Geriatrics Society and the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS) recently announced their first round of Choosing Wisely Champions, a program created to recognize clinicians who are leading efforts to reduce overuse and waste in medicine. Among those selected was Heidi Ann Courtney, a physician assistant, whose experience caring for her ailing grandmother inspired her to “do more with less.” AAPOS Champion Dr. Sean Donahue was recognized for a screening tool he created to reduce the number of children prescribed unnecessary glasses.

Profiles in Professionalism

In “Doing What Needs to be Done”, Dr. Howard Beckman relates a story about taking the time to see a final patient at the end of a long day—who happened to be Rosa Parks. This chance encounter made a lasting impact on his life and identity as a physician.

For Dr. Shannon Phillips, professionalism is about relationships. In “Relationship-Centered Professionalism”, she writes, “If we are purposeful in building strong relationships with each other and we commit fully to the relationship with the patient, I don’t know how we can’t do well.”

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Choosing Wisely Facts and Figures

It has been a little over four years since Choosing Wisely launched. A new infographic summarizes how the campaign has influenced conversations in that time.

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