Mulley, MD, MPH, Chief of the General Internal Medicine Division and Director of the Medical Practices Evaluation Center at Massachusetts General Hospital. Beggs credits Wennberg with popularizing the concept of shared decision making with research efforts such as the Dartmouth Atlas, which takes a look at the geographic variations in protocols, or treatments, for certain illnesses. Jim Weinstein, MD, medical director of the Spine Center, will also serve as medical director for the Center for Shared Decision Making. Weinstein advocated shared decision making in his treatment of patients with spinal problems during his 14 years at the University of Iowa. Giving patients useful information when they are facing difficult decisions is always beneficial.
Patients are smart.
If you give them information in a format that's easy to access and understandable, they will make sound decisions. The videos will be updated quarterly, as appropriate, to ensure the most current and accurate information. Topics range from mild hypertension, lower back pain, and benign uterine conditions to breast cancer and hormone replacement therapy. BlueCross BlueShield sees an added advantage to making the tapes available to patients on site. We believe it will enhance patients' knowledge and help them make educated decisions about their health care.