We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us
GLOBETECH PUBLISHING LLC

Download Mobile App




Stricter EHR Imaging Rules Reduce X-rays in ICU

By MedImaging International staff writers
Posted on 13 Mar 2019
Researchers at the Cleveland Clinic (CC, OH, USA) conducted a study to examine if revising the ordering options for imaging in the ICU resulted in any harms to patients. The EHR was modified so that daily chest x-rays could only be ordered for cardiac and thoracic surgery patients; in general, for all other patients, chest x-rays could be ordered only on a one-time basis. CXR were compared in two time periods: from January 1 to June 11, 2018, before the restrictions were implemented, and from June 12 to December 31, 2018, after implementation.

The results revealed that the EHR restrictions led to a 23.5% decrease in the overall number of portable chest x-rays ordered, and a 36.6% decrease in the average number of overnight chest x-rays. There was no increase in the volume of CXR performed during rounding hours to compensate for those decreases; in fact, volume decreased by 15.8%. In addition, the restrictions helped eliminate sleep interruptions and also minimized radiation. The study was presented at the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) annual congress, held during February 2019 in San Diego (CA, USA).

“This initiative offered a way to improve patient experience, maximize caregiver efficiencies, minimize radiation exposure, and standardize practices, with no negative impact on patient outcomes,” said lead author and study presenter Anita Reddy, MD. “There was no reduction in staff time related to the decrease in x-rays because of the staffing model used at the Cleveland Clinic, but radiologists were able to dedicate their reclaimed time to reading other types of images.”

Daily CXR are common practice for ICUs, even though they are no longer recommended by the American College of Radiology, the Choosing Wisely campaign, and several other U.S. national societies. Potential negative impacts of daily CXR include disturbed sleep that can lead to delirium, and a daily radiation exposure of about 0.1 mSv.

Related Links:
Cleveland Clinic

Half Apron
Demi
New
Silver Member
X-Ray QA Device
Accu-Gold+ Touch Pro
Diagnostic Ultrasound System
DC-80A
New
MRI System
nanoScan MRI 3T/7T

Channels

Nuclear Medicine

view channel
Image: Perovskite crystal boules are grown in carefully controlled conditions from the melt (Photo courtesy of Mercouri Kanatzidis/Northwestern University)

New Camera Sees Inside Human Body for Enhanced Scanning and Diagnosis

Nuclear medicine scans like single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) allow doctors to observe heart function, track blood flow, and detect hidden diseases. However, current detectors are either... Read more

General/Advanced Imaging

view channel
Image: The Angio-CT solution integrates the latest advances in interventional imaging (Photo courtesy of Canon Medical)

Cutting-Edge Angio-CT Solution Offers New Therapeutic Possibilities

Maintaining accuracy and safety in interventional radiology is a constant challenge, especially as complex procedures require both high precision and efficiency. Traditional setups often involve multiple... Read more

Imaging IT

view channel
Image: The new Medical Imaging Suite makes healthcare imaging data more accessible, interoperable and useful (Photo courtesy of Google Cloud)

New Google Cloud Medical Imaging Suite Makes Imaging Healthcare Data More Accessible

Medical imaging is a critical tool used to diagnose patients, and there are billions of medical images scanned globally each year. Imaging data accounts for about 90% of all healthcare data1 and, until... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.