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Summary Choosing Wisely: from theory to practice “Choosing Wisely” is an innovative approach that the Network of Southern Switzerland Public Hospitals has decided to promote. Five standard diagnostic or therapeutic procedures have been chosen to explore the potential benefi t of the “Choosing Wisely” initiative: the prescripti on of benzodiazepines, proton pump inhibitors or antibiotics on discharge from hospital, exposure to ionising radiation in radiological imaging and the number of blood samples taken during hospitalisation. As a fi rst step we compared these variables in the medical and surgical departments of the four major public hospitals in Ticino. We observed signifi cant and unexpected practical differences between specialties and between the different institutions. These results were presented to all concerned healthcare stakeholders. The next steps are to develop continuous monitoring of these indicators and specific recommendations by involving patients in the consciousness-raising process.

«Choosing Wisely»: von der Theorie zur Praxis Luca Gabuttia, Michela Pironib, Roberto Della Brunac, Juergen Heinkeld, Luca Clivioe, Angela Grecoe a Division of Internal Medicine and Nephrology, Ospedale Regionale di Locarno, Switzerland, b Central Pharmacy Service, Clinical Pharmacy Division, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Switzerland, c Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ospedale Regionale di Bellinzona e Valli, Bellinzona, Switzerland, d Division of Radiology, Ospedale Regionale di Locarno, Switzerland, e Quality and Patient Safety Service, Ospedale Regionale di Locarno, Switzerland