Title
Computed tomography utilization rates after the placement of a scanner in an emergency department: a single-center experience
Publication Date
2014
Journal Title
Emerg Radiol
Abstract
The convenience of a computed tomography (CT) scanner in the emergency department (ED) may impact utilization rates. Our primary aim was to determine the rate of utilization before and after the placement of an ED CT scanner. Secondary aims were to determine the rate of utilization by anatomic region and during a 5-month period when the ED scanner was unavailable. We performed an electronic chart review of our ED with an annual census of 70,000 patients. We identified all patients over the age of 21 who had a CT scan performed from January 2008 to October 2010. Predetermined data elements were extracted by trained, hypothesis-blinded abstractors. Comparisons overall and within scan subtype were performed using seasonal matching. We found a CT utilization rate of 114 per 1,000 patient visits before and 139 per 1,000 patient visits after the placement of a CT scanner in the ED (p
Volume Number
21
Issue Number
5
Pages
473-8
Document Type
Article
EPub Date
2014/04/15
Status
Faculty
Facility
School of Medicine
Primary Department
Emergency Medicine
PMID
DOI
10.1007/s10140-014-1217-1