When required, medical diagnostic tests are instrumental in finding and treating disease. But erring too far on the side of caution has contributed to skyrocketing health care costs.

To combat this trend, a group of leading physicians from nine medical specialty organizations has initiated a campaign, Choosing Wisely (pdf), to improve patient safety and reduce medical spending.

In this Inside E Street segment, "Cutting the Cost of Care," watch how members of Choosing Wisely are advocating for better patient-doctor conversations and firmer testing standards.

Interviewees: Eric Holmboe, M.D., chief medical officer of the American Board of Internal Medicine

David Newman (pdf), a New York emergency room physician and author of Hippocrates' Shadow: Secrets from the House of Medicine

Also of interest: 5 things to talk about with your doctor.