Choosing Wisely: Celebrating a decade of impact at SickKids and beyond

As we mark Canadian Patient Safety Week, we’re reflecting on how far we’ve come since SickKids recognized that children needed to be part of the Choosing Wisely movement. Today, Choosing Wisely – an international campaign that helps clinicians and patients avoid unnecessary tests, treatments and procedures – is part of our everyday language. 

In 2016, we launched Canada’s first hospital-based Choosing Wisely program at a children’s academic health sciences centre. Since then, we have brought together research, quality improvement and education to identify unnecessary practices, build evidence and support care teams in making thoughtful decisions with patients and families to support high-value care. 

Choosing Wisely has changed the culture at SickKids, prompting us all to consistently ask not just whether we can provide a test or treatment, but if it is actually needed, supported by the best current evidence and will be beneficial for the individual patient. Because every unnecessary test or treatment carries potential risks, Choosing Wisely is also about keeping patients safe. Less can sometimes truly be so much more. 

Here are some of the highlights in our new report, SickKids Choosing Wisely: 10 Years of Impact: 

• A message from our program directors 
• Impact infographic 
• Achievements 
• Project spotlights 
• Capacity building 
• Looking ahead at what’s next for SickKids’ Choosing Wisely program 

This milestone was made possible by the many clinicians, researchers, learners, patients and families who have supported Choosing Wisely at SickKids, making high-value care part of who we are. This Canadian Patient Safety Week, we invite you to explore the report and celebrate how far we have come. Join us and contribute your ideas to help keep the Choosing Wisely momentum to improve the quality and safety of care for every child and their family. 

Learn more about the SickKids Choosing Wisely program.