In rural and remote communities, geographical barriers and limited access to specialized services often result in patients travelling far distances for inpatient and outpatient care. Ensuring the necessity of every test and treatment is of utmost importance in these locales because low-value care, in addition being clinically inappropriate, impose financial burdens and causes time away from one’s family, work, and community.

A new toolkit developed by Choosing Wisely Northwest Territories provides practical guidance for improving referrals, minimizing unnecessary medical travel, and bringing investigations closer to where patients live. Best Care Includes Where draws on the Choosing Wisely Canada recommendations developed by the Society of Rural Physicians of Canada on reducing unnecessary patient movement from rural communities for medical care and optimizing transportation when necessary.