Minnesota Health Care Organizations Receive ABIM Foundation Grant To Advance Choosing Wisely Campaign

Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement and Minnesota Health Action Group chosen as regional collaborative for campaign encouraging physician and patient conversations about overuse in health care

BLOOMINGTON, Minn., March 26, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement (ICSI) and the Minnesota Health Action Group (The Action Group) are among 21 state medical societies, specialty societies, and regional health collaboratives that have received grants from the ABIM Foundation to help physicians engage patients in conversations aimed at reducing unnecessary medical tests and procedures. The grants, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, are meant to extend the reach of the ABIM Foundation's Choosing Wisely® campaign in communities across the United States.

Launched in April 2012, Choosing Wisely is focused on encouraging physicians and patients to think and talk about medical tests and procedures that may be unnecessary, and in some instances can cause harm. Since the campaign launched, 25 medical specialty societies have unveiled lists of over-used or unnecessary tests and procedures.

The Action Group and ICSI partnered on the grant proposal to leverage the unique strengths of each organization. ICSI will take the lead on project work related to physicians and patients, while The Action Group will spearhead the communication efforts with employers and their employees. The two organizations will also participate in a learning network that the ABIM Foundation will establish for the 21 national grant recipients to allow them to learn from one another and enhance the effectiveness of their programs.

"Both ICSI and The Action Group bring complementary backgrounds and skill sets to improve the quality and lower the cost of health care in Minnesota," said Sanne Magnan, MD, PhD, president and CEO of ICSI.  "Because we include 50+ medical groups and hospitals in the state, we are uniquely positioned to reach physicians and patients in Minnesota, educate them on the specialty societies' recommendations and engage them in the Choosing Wisely campaign to help ensure patients get appropriate care."

"Both organizations come from a common ground where information is the key to making wise health care decisions," said Carolyn Pare, president and CEO of the Minnesota Health Action Group. "I'm confident that, together, our organizations can engage not only patients and providers, but also employers who purchase health care coverage on behalf of their employees and have a vested interest in making sure their employees understand that more health care is not always better, and in some cases may even be harmful."

As co-recipients of the ABIM Foundation grant, The Action Group and ICSI will have unique responsibilities. For example, The Action Group will: work with employers to identify the most effective and impactful distribution channels, timing, and decision points to incorporate Choosing Wisely materials and messages, and provide written communication materials for their use; build Choosing Wisely messages on appropriate use into its Patient Safety and Quality toolkit for employers; and lead the outreach to other business organizations to expand the spread of the Choosing Wisely campaign, such as with Chambers of Commerce and union trusts.

At the same time, ICSI will engage Minnesota physicians to address the five key prioritized Choosing Wisely recommendations in our community. ICSI will also include Choosing Wisely materials in other initiatives such as "Co-creating a Sustainable Healthy Tomorrow," which is designed to bring clinicians, citizens and other stakeholders together to create local goals and action plans that help Minnesota communities improve the health, experience and cost of their health care.

About the Minnesota Health Action Group
Formed in 1988, the Minnesota Health Action Group (formerly the Buyers Health Care Action Group) is a coalition of private and public health care purchasers representing the interests of the organizations that pay for health care goods and services—those that have the highest stake in ensuring health care dollars are carefully spent. The mission of the organization is to improve the value of the health care system in Minnesota, driving for higher quality, lower cost and better health outcomes for all. To learn more, visit MNHealthActionGroup.org.

About the Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement
Formed in 1993, ICSI is a non-profit, quality improvement organization that unites clinicians, health plans, employers, consumers and other stakeholders to bring innovation and urgency to improve the health of the population, optimize the patient experience, and make health care more affordable. It includes 50+ medical group and hospital members and is sponsored by five nonprofit health plans.  To learn more visit: http://www.icsi.org

About the ABIM Foundation
The ABIM Foundation advances medical professionalism to improve the health care system by collaborating with physicians, health care delivery systems, payers, policy makers, consumer organizations and patients. For more information, visit www.abimfoundation.org.

About the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is the nation's largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to health and health care. It works with a diverse group of organizations and individuals to identify solutions and achieve comprehensive, measurable, and timely change in health care. For more information, visit www.rwjf.org.

SOURCE Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement