The increase constitutes a 16 percent increase per year, or a 5.9-fold increase overall. Researchers analyzed data from the 1995-2007 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey to evaluate CT in about 30,044 ED visits per year.
The study found CT was used more often among older patients, white patients, patients who were admitted to the hospital, as well as at facilities in urban areas. The most common reasons for CT use were abdominal pain, headache or chest pain.
Read the abstract of the study in the Jan. 2011 issue of Radiology.
Read more on CT:
–CMS Issues Proposed Rule on Changes to Stark In-Office Ancillary Exception
–HHS Adds Hospital Outpatient and ED Quality Data to Public Websites
–15 Hospitals With Great Cardiovascular Programs
At Becker's 4th Annual CEO + CFO Roundtable, taking place November 2–5 in Chicago, more than 1,500 hospital and health system executives tackle decisions that determine whether organizations thrive or merely survive: protecting margins under cost pressure, choosing where to grow, renegotiating payer relationships, stabilizing the workforce and proving real ROI on technology. This is where leaders work through them together, face-to-face. Apply for complimentary registration now.