Improving the appropriateness of imaging utilization remains one of the most important
goals for radiology. While no one will question the value of an imaging study whose
findings will guide patient care decisions, the ordering of imaging studies that are
unlikely to provide a significant clinical impact is a problem for the major stakeholders
in this process including radiology practices (capacity issues leading to patient
backlogs), radiologists (more imaging exams that need to be interpreted contributing
to burnout), and, most importantly, patients (undergoing unnecessary examinations
with additional costs and potential complications). Eliminating these inappropriately
ordered imaging examinations improves the overall quality and safety of the services
provided by our field while reducing the associated costs, both direct and indirect.
With estimates of MRI and CT imaging inappropriateness as high as 26% for example,
there is abundant opportunity for improvement (
1
).- Lehnert B.E.
- Bree R.L.
Analysis of appropriateness of outpatient CT and MRI referred from primary care clinics
at an academic medical center: how critical is the need for improved decision support?.
J Am Coll Radiol. 2010; 7 (Published Online First: 2010/03/03): 192-197https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacr.2009.11.010
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References
- Analysis of appropriateness of outpatient CT and MRI referred from primary care clinics at an academic medical center: how critical is the need for improved decision support?.J Am Coll Radiol. 2010; 7 (Published Online First: 2010/03/03): 192-197https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacr.2009.11.010
- Clinical decision support: impact on appropriate imaging utilization.Acad Radiol. 2022; (Published Online First: 2022/11/07)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acra.2022.10.006
Article info
Publication history
Published online: May 22, 2023
Accepted:
March 13,
2023
Received in revised form:
March 1,
2023
Publication stage
In Press Corrected ProofIdentification
Copyright
© 2023 The Association of University Radiologists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved All rights reserved.
