Providing physicians with a computerized order entry/decision support system that provides immediate feedback regarding imaging appropriateness at the time of ordering may be an effective solution to managing imaging utilization, according to an article in the December issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology, (JACR, www.jacr.org).
"Imaging exams are increasingly replacing more invasive, and often more costly, diagnostic techniques, and have redefined medical practice as a safer, less invasive and more accurate means of collecting diagnostic information," said Kathryn Keysor, Senior Health Policy Administrator for the American College of Radiology. "However, aside from this vast patient centered growth, imaging costs have been driven by the fact that many providers may not know which imaging exam is most appropriate for the patient indication they are observing or even when no scan should be performed at all. This, as well as incomplete patient histories and other factors, can lead to unnecessary and duplicate studies, which in turn drive up costs," said Keysor.
Many strategies have been employed to try to manage or decrease the utilization of imaging. "Strategies that offer the best return in the long run will be quality based and data driven and result in the continuous education of providers and patients," she said.