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Does Your Child Really Need That Medical Test?

You should trust your pediatrician, but it’s okay to ask questions. Some medical tests may be recommended by your pediatrician yet may not be necessary for your child.

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Verify whether or not your child actually needs these tests:

  • MRIs and CT scans for headaches
  • Medical workup for short stature
  • Blood pressure tests at every visit
Reference Choosing Wisely to see when to consider tests as necessary. Always discuss with your pediatrician.

Listen as Dr. Paul Kaplowitz joins Melanie Cole, MS, to discuss which medical tests may not really be needed.

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Does Your Child Really Need That Medical Test?
Featuring:
Paul Kaplowitz, MD
Paul KaplowitzDr. Paul Kaplowitz received his MD and PhD at the University of Chicago in 1976 and completed a pediatric residency and fellowship in pediatric endocrinology at the University of North Carolina in 1982.  From 1982 to 2003 he was on the faculty at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine in Richmond VA.  In 2003 he moved to DC to become Chief of Endocrinology at Children's National Health System and served as Chief until 2013. Dr. Kaplowitz has published over 80 papers with a focus on growth, puberty, and thyroid issues and written two books for parents, Early Puberty in Girls and The Short Child. He has been on the editorial board of many journals, including the AAP journal Pediatrics from 2016-2019.  He has been active in the AAP for many years including the Section on Endocrinology and was Chairperson of the Section from 2008-2012.  Since 2015, Dr. Kaplowitz has been the AAP physician champion for the Choosing Wisely initiative and has worked with many specialty sections to develop lists of tests or procedures which should be questioned.

Dr. Kaplowitz retired in 2018 and is now a Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics at the GWU School of Medicine and the Health Sciences.