The use of CT scans in hospital emergency rooms tripled between 1998 and 2007, according to a study from Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Johns Hopkins researchers, led by Frederick K. Korley, MD, linked the increased use of scans to higher costs and extended ER stays. Researchers found patients who underwent advanced scanning spent two hours longer in the ER than other patients.
The superiority of CT scans over x-rays for diagnosing certain conditions may also contribute to the increase. Other factors include the increased availability of CT scans, the proximity of the scanners to patient care areas and concern about malpractice lawsuits for missed diagnoses.
Read the John Hopkins study on CT scan use.
Read more coverage about emergency room care:
- Reduced Wait Time Drives Patients to Dallas Hospital's ER
- St. David's HealthCare to Build Freestanding ER in Bee Cave, Texas
- Texas May Lift Requirement for On Site Physicians at ERs
Johns Hopkins researchers, led by Frederick K. Korley, MD, linked the increased use of scans to higher costs and extended ER stays. Researchers found patients who underwent advanced scanning spent two hours longer in the ER than other patients.
The superiority of CT scans over x-rays for diagnosing certain conditions may also contribute to the increase. Other factors include the increased availability of CT scans, the proximity of the scanners to patient care areas and concern about malpractice lawsuits for missed diagnoses.
Read the John Hopkins study on CT scan use.
Read more coverage about emergency room care:
- Reduced Wait Time Drives Patients to Dallas Hospital's ER
- St. David's HealthCare to Build Freestanding ER in Bee Cave, Texas
- Texas May Lift Requirement for On Site Physicians at ERs