A panel of medical experts from the University of Pennsylvania, Cooper University Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital share their thoughts on the risk of CT radiation in emergency departments for patients with belly pain and how electronic medical records have been used to assist in those circumstances, according to a TIME news report.
Aaron Sodickson, MD, assistant director of emergency radiology at Brigham and Women's Hospital, says despite all the controversy and debate over the risks of low-level radiation, there is much more concern about patients who undergo many CT scans over a certain period of time.
"Seven percent of our patients have had enough prior CT imaging to increase their cumulative cancer risk by one percent or more above [the baseline cancer rate of] 42 percent. These are the patients that need more serious scrutiny of radiation dose," Dr. Sodickson said.
Dr. Sodickson adds that while a CT scan may be a medically sound decision for the belly pain patient who is admitted to the ED for the first time, patients with belly pain are usually admitted to the ED on a recurring basis.
However, experts share that certain hospital protocols have helped contain healthcare costs and patient safety risks associated with CT scans. Brigitte M. Baumann, MD, head of clinical research in the department of emergency medicine at Cooper University Hospital, says her healthcare organization utilized its EMR to monitor how often a patient is admitted to the ED and how many CT scans he or she has had.
"Certainly for patients who have had chronic abdominal pain, seeing three CTs documented on the radiology system over the past year or so, we may rethink ordering that fourth CT, particularly if all other testing is normal," Dr. Baumann said.
Angela Mills, MD, assistant professor of emergency medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, agrees with the tremendous impact EMRs have had for patients in ED settings, though she cautions that impact may fluctuate as patients look for care at differing healthcare organizations.
"I am currently working with our radiologists to provide emergency physicians with information on prior imaging by using the electronic medical record," Dr. Mills said. "We will study if providing this information in real-time [electronically] will better inform medical decision making in abdominal-pain patients."
Read the news report about CT radiation and EMRs.
Read other coverage about EMRs:
- Six Strategies to Secure Nursing Buy-in for an Emergency Department EHR
- Coriell Institute for Medical Research, OSU Medical Center Partner to Add Genomic Info into EMRs
- Number of Registrants for Incentive Payments Still on the Rise
Aaron Sodickson, MD, assistant director of emergency radiology at Brigham and Women's Hospital, says despite all the controversy and debate over the risks of low-level radiation, there is much more concern about patients who undergo many CT scans over a certain period of time.
"Seven percent of our patients have had enough prior CT imaging to increase their cumulative cancer risk by one percent or more above [the baseline cancer rate of] 42 percent. These are the patients that need more serious scrutiny of radiation dose," Dr. Sodickson said.
Dr. Sodickson adds that while a CT scan may be a medically sound decision for the belly pain patient who is admitted to the ED for the first time, patients with belly pain are usually admitted to the ED on a recurring basis.
However, experts share that certain hospital protocols have helped contain healthcare costs and patient safety risks associated with CT scans. Brigitte M. Baumann, MD, head of clinical research in the department of emergency medicine at Cooper University Hospital, says her healthcare organization utilized its EMR to monitor how often a patient is admitted to the ED and how many CT scans he or she has had.
"Certainly for patients who have had chronic abdominal pain, seeing three CTs documented on the radiology system over the past year or so, we may rethink ordering that fourth CT, particularly if all other testing is normal," Dr. Baumann said.
Angela Mills, MD, assistant professor of emergency medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, agrees with the tremendous impact EMRs have had for patients in ED settings, though she cautions that impact may fluctuate as patients look for care at differing healthcare organizations.
"I am currently working with our radiologists to provide emergency physicians with information on prior imaging by using the electronic medical record," Dr. Mills said. "We will study if providing this information in real-time [electronically] will better inform medical decision making in abdominal-pain patients."
Read the news report about CT radiation and EMRs.
Read other coverage about EMRs:
- Six Strategies to Secure Nursing Buy-in for an Emergency Department EHR
- Coriell Institute for Medical Research, OSU Medical Center Partner to Add Genomic Info into EMRs
- Number of Registrants for Incentive Payments Still on the Rise