January 15 at Harvard Pilgrim (27 credit package)

Doors open at 9:00, lecture starts at 9:30 AM
Room 1038, 1st floor

50 minute lecture
Understanding Screening Tests

How well do screening tests actually work? Do they improve patient health or instead raise patient risks and costs? This lecture introduces some tools to measure screening test effectiveness and understand how to choose tests wisely.

After the lecture, take the 3 Self Study exams below.
You must read the texts in advance. You will not be permitted to take the exams otherwise. All available from amazon.com

• Overdiagnosed: Making People Sick in Pursuit of Health by Dr. H. Gilbert Welch, Mass course # C95210, 12 credits
• Should I Be Tested for Cancer? Maybe Not and Here’s Why by Dr. H. Gilbert Welch, Mass course #C08840, 10 credits.
• Know Your Chances by Dr. Steven Woloshin, Mass course #C99094, 5 credits, introduces some basic medical analytics and statistics in a user-friendly fashion. “Everyone considering screening tests should read this book,” according to Gary Fradin.  “It explains critical and complicated care quality metrics very simply and well. But you have to read it slowly.”

Exams take about 20 minutes each after the lecture. Proctors provided. Graded immediately. You should be finished around 11:30