Script FINAL
Embargoed Until 5:00 p.m. ET, Monday, January 31st, 2011
Slate 1
American College of Physicians Issues Advice
For High-Value Health Care for Diagnostic Imaging for Low Back Pain
Recommendations Are First in a Series of Papers to Help Physicians and Patients
Identify Misused Medical Treatments and to Practice High-Value Health Care
Video News Story from American College of Physicians
American College of Physicians
Video Press Kit
For More Information Please Contact:
American College of Physicians
Steve Majewski
215.351.2514
SMajewski@acponline.org
For Technical Information Contact:
D S Simon Productions
212.736.2727
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Slate 2
Courtesy the American College of Physicians,
publisher of Annals of Internal Medicine.
Slate 3
Table of Contents:
Story Description
Interview ID
Suggested Lead
Full Video Package
:30 Video Package
Additional Soundbites
Additional B-Roll
Funding Information
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Slate 4
Story Description:
Physicians often order imaging tests for people with low back pain. But after reviewing
the evidence, the American College of Physicians says that doctors should reconsider
this common practice. ACP reviewed the clinical evidence and found that imaging tests
such as X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans do not improve the clinical outcomes or functional
status of patients with low back pain that is due to non-specific reasons such as a strain
on muscles, bones, or ligaments.
Some evidence even suggested there are increased risks for patients getting
unnecessary imaging tests. ACP found imaging tests usually lead to further
unnecessary tests, referrals, follow ups, and interventions that have no impact on
outcomes of the patients. In fact, radiation exposure due to imaging can even increase
patients risk for cancer over time.
The recommendations are published in Annals of internal Medicine. It’s the start of a
new initiative from ACP to help doctors and patients identify misused and wasteful
medical treatments.
Slate 5
Amir Qaseem, MD,
Director of Clinical Policy
American College of Physicians
Slate 6
Suggested Lead-In:
X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs are common imaging tests used to diagnose low back
pain. Now the American College of Physicians has found they are not beneficial and
may even be harmful.
Slate 7
Script FINAL
Full Package
X-ray of spinal cord/MRI
v1:20-:22/nm :53-56
ACP images exterior/ floor sign
Doug’s exterior shot
(1) Announcer: Physicians often order
imaging tests for people with low back
pain. But after reviewing the evidence,
the American College of Physicians says
doctors should reconsider this common
practice.
(2) Dr. Amir Qaseem: [08:36:02:00]
ACP found that low back pain is usually
non-specific, meaning the cause is either
strain on muscles, bones, or ligaments.
There is substantial improvement in
patients in a few days to a month with
exercise as well as medications. Imaging
tests have no impact on the clinical
outcomes of the patients or their
functional status.
ACP images/Qaseem
Doug’s Shoot
(3) Announcer: The nation’s secondlargest physician group has issued new
treatment recommendations for doctors
and patients.
(4) Dr. Amir Qaseem: [08:38:06:00]
ACP recommends that imaging tests
such as X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs
should be reserved for patients with
serious symptoms or who are candidates
for invasive interventions.
MRI footage
Nm :53
(5) Announcer: Some evidence even
suggested there are increased risks for
patients taking unnecessary imaging
tests.
(6) Dr. Amir Qaseem: [08:40:41:00]
Imaging tests usually lead to further
unnecessary tests, referrals, follow ups,
and interventions that have no impact on
outcomes of the patients. In fact radiation
exposure due to imaging can increase
patients risk for cancer over time.
Script FINAL
Qaseem reviewing data
Doug shoot
Pos nm 2:58-3:03
(7) Announcer: The recommendations
are published in Annals of internal
Medicine. It’s the start of a new initiative
from ACP to help doctors and patients
identify misused and wasteful medical
treatments.
(8) Dr. Amir Qaseem: [8:41:12;00] The
goal of ACP’s best practice advice is to
help physicians provide best available
evidence-based care to their patients,
and to reduce unnecessary healthcare
costs. Physicians need to stop ordering
tests that do not provide any benefit, and
may even be harmful. It’s actually very
important for physicians to talk to your
patients because most patients do not
want tests that do not provide any benefit
and may potentially be harmful.
Website shot
(9) Announcer: For more information go
to www.acponline.org.
Slate 8
:30 version
X-ray of spinal cord/MRI
v1:20-:22/nm :53-56
ACP images exterior/ floor sign
Doug’s exterior shot
(1) Announcer: Physicians often order
imaging tests for people with low back
pain. But after reviewing the evidence,
the American College of Physicians
says doctors should reconsider this
common practice.
Dr. Amir Qaseem: [08:36:02:00] ACP
found that low back pain is usually nonspecific, meaning the cause is either
strain on muscles, bones, or ligaments.
There is substantial improvement in
patients in a few days to a month with
exercise as well as medications.
Imaging tests have no impact on the
clinical outcomes of the patients or
their functional status.
Script FINAL
Website shot
(3) Announcer: For more information
go to www.acponline.org
Slate 9
Additional Soundbites
Amir Qaseem, MD,
Director of Clinical Policy
American College of Physicians
Dr. Amir Qaseem: [08 38:51:00] ACP reviewed the evidence, and what we found is
that imaging tests such as X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans, do not improve the clinical
outcomes or functional status of patients with low back pain that is due to non-specific
reasons such as a strain on muscles, bones, or ligaments.
Dr. Amir Qaseem: [08:47:19:00] Physicians need to provide best available evidencebased care to their patients to improve the quality of care. It is really important for
physicians to stop ordering tests that do not provide any benefit but may even be
harmful. It’s really important to talk to your patients because most patients do not want
tests that do not provide any benefit, and can be potentially harmful.
Slate 10
Additional B-Roll


Footage of imaging tests
American College of Physicians footage
Slate 11
Courtesy the American College of Physicians,
publisher of Annals of Internal Medicine.