Use of Medical Images

Outpatients with Low Back Pain Who had an MRI without Trying Recommended Treatments First, such as Physical Therapy.

(If a number is high, it may mean the facility is doing too many unnecessary MRIs for low back pain.)

(Data collected from 1/1/2010 to 12/31/2010)

Why is this Important? 
What does this measure tell you about a hospital's use of MRIs for low back pain?

Although MRIs can be helpful for diagnosing low back pain, MRIs can be used too much.

Usually, low back pain improves or goes away within six weeks and an MRI is not needed.

Process of care say that most patients with low back pain should start with treatment such as physical therapy or chiropractic care, and have an MRI only if the treatment doesn't help.

Finding out whether treatment helps before having an MRI is better and safer for most patients because it avoids the stress, risk, and cost of doing MRIs that patients may not need.

If a number is high, it may mean that the facility is doing unnecessary MRIs for low back pain. For some patients with certain conditions, getting an MRI right away is appropriate care. Patients with these conditions are not included in this measure.

If you have low back pain, you, your doctor, and the medical imaging facility staff should all talk about the best time to do an MRI if you need one.

What is an MRI?

An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is a test that uses a powerful magnetic field and a computer to produce detailed pictures of the inside of the body (bones, organs, and other body parts).

What are the risks of having an MRI?

Since MRIs use magnets rather than x-rays, there is no radiation risk. However, because the magnets attract some kinds of metal, it's important for the technician to know if there are any metal objects or implants inside the patient's body, such as pacemakers, artificial joints, screws, stents, plates, or staples. Metal objects can pose serious risk to the patient and interfere with the test.
For some MRIs, a substance called "contrast" is injected before the test to make parts of the body stand out more clearly on the images. Risks of contrast include possible harm to the kidneys or allergic reactions. Contrast shouldn't be used if it isn't needed.
Having the test can be stressful for some people. Patients must hold still for about 15 to 45 minutes while lying on a table that moves inside a large scanning machine. While images are being taken, the machine makes loud noises.

Outpatients Who had a Follow-up Mammogram or Ultrasound Within 45 Days After a Screening Mammogram.

(A number that is much lower than 8% may mean there's not enough follow-up. A number much higher than 14% may mean there's too much unnecessary follow-up.)

(Data collected from 1/1/2010 to 12/31/2010)

Why is this Important? 
What does this measure tell you about a hospital's follow-up for screening mammograms?

When a screening mammogram shows signs of possible breast cancer, the patient is asked to come back for a follow-up appointment. A follow-up usually means having more tests (mammograms, an ultrasound, or both).

Medical research shows that there may be a problem if a facility has either very low or very high numbers of follow-ups (Note: The numbers that follow are most appropriately applied to women who are 65 or older who have Original Medicare):

A number much lower than 8% may mean there's not enough follow-up and it's possible that signs of cancer are being missed.

A number much higher than 14% may mean the facility is doing too much unnecessary follow-up.

Reasons could include poor technique (blurry X-rays that need to be repeated) or a lack of skill or experience interpreting the screening mammograms.

Whatever the reason, unnecessary follow-up is stressful to patients and results in needless exposure to radiation. (There is no radiation exposure for ultrasounds because they don't use x-rays.)

If you are going to have a screening mammogram, talk with your doctor about the results you see here and what a facility's results mean for you and your care.

What is a "screening" mammogram?

A screening mammogram is an x-ray of the breast to check for possible breast cancer.

Outpatient CT Scans of the Chest that were "Combination" (Double) Scans.

(The range for this measure is 0 to 1. A number very close to 1 may mean that too many patients are being given a double scan when a single scan is all they need.)

(Data collected from 1/1/2010 to 12/31/2010)

National Average

0.044

Pennsylvania Average

0.023

Abington Memorial Hospital

0.012

Why is this Important?

What is a "combination" CT scan?

For some CT scans, a substance called "contrast" is put into the patient's body before the scan begins, to help make parts of the body stand out more clearly. Contrast can be either swallowed or injected into a vein.
"Combination" CT scan means that the patient gets two CT scans - one scan without contrast followed by a second scan with contrast.

What does this measure tell you about hospital imaging facilities' use of CT scans of the chest?

Standards of quality care say that most patients who are getting a CT scan of the chest should be given a single CT scan rather than a "combination" CT scan. (Although combination CT scans are appropriate for some parts of the body and some medical conditions, combination scans are usually not appropriate for the chest.)

The range for this measure is 0 to 1. If a number is very close to 1, it may mean that the facility is routinely giving patients combination CT scans of the chest when a single scan is all they need.

Giving patients two scans when they only need one needlessly doubles their exposure to radiation:

Radiation exposure from a single CT scan of the chest is about 350 times higher than for an ordinary chest x-ray.

For combination CT scans, radiation exposure is 700 times higher than for a chest x-ray because the patient is given two scans.

When contrast is used, there are risks that can include possible harm to the kidneys or allergic reactions (especially if the contrast is injected). To avoid unnecessary risk, contrast should be used only when it is needed. If you need to have a CT scan of the chest, talk with your doctor about what's best for your medical condition:

Do you need a single scan - either with or without contrast - or is a combination scan necessary?

Is using contrast appropriate for your medical condition?

The information that follows shows hospital imaging facilities' use of CT scans of the chest. Talk with your doctor about the results shown here and what a facility's results mean for you and your care.

Outpatient CT Scans of the Abdomen that were "Combination" (Double) Scans.

(The range for this measure is 0 to 1. A number very close to 1 may mean that too many patients are being given a double scan when a single scan is all they need.)

(Data collected from 1/1/2010 to 12/31/2010)

National Average

0.149

Pennsylvania Average

0.151

Abington Memorial Hospital

0.028

Why is this Important? 

What is a "combination" CT scan?

For some CT scans, a substance called "contrast" is put into the patient's body before the scan begins, to help make parts of the body stand out more clearly on the x-rays. Contrast can be either swallowed or injected into a vein.
"Combination" CT scan means that the patient gets two CT scans - one scan without contrast followed by a second scan with contrast.

What does this measure tell you about the hospital imaging facility's use of CT scans of the abdomen?

Combination scans involve additional radiation exposure and risks associated with use of contrast.

For this measure, if a number is very close to 1, it may mean that the facility is routinely giving patients combination CT scans of the abdomen when a single scan is all they need.

Giving patients two scans when they only need one needlessly doubles their exposure to radiation:

Radiation exposure from a single CT scan of the abdomen is about 11 times higher than for an ordinary x-ray of the abdomen.

For a combination CT scan, radiation exposure is 22 times higher than for an x-ray of the abdomen because the patient is given two scans.

Risks of injected contrast include possible harm to the kidneys or allergic reactions. Contrast shouldn't be used if it isn't needed.

CT scans of the abdomen are one of the most commonly requested imaging procedures. If you need to have a CT scan of the abdomen, talk to your doctor about what's best for your medical condition:

Do you need a single scan - either with or without contrast - or is a combination scan necessary?
Is using contrast appropriate for your medical condition?

The information that follows shows hospital imaging facilities' use of CT scans of the abdomen. Talk with your doctor about the results you see here and what a facility's results mean for you and your care.

What is a "CT scan"?

A CT scan (also called a CAT scan) uses multiple x-rays to produce detailed pictures of the inside of the body (bones, organs, and other body parts).

Outpatients who got Cardiac Imaging Stress Tests Before Low-Risk Outpatient Surgery

(Data collected from 1/1/2010 to 12/31/2010)

Why is this Important? 

Outpatients with Brain CT Scans who got a Sinus CT Scan at the Same Time

(Data collected from 1/1/2010 to 12/31/2010)

Why is this Important? 

Source:
The information was provided from http://www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov/, a quality tool developed by the United States Department of Health and Human Services.  You may use the information in Hospital Compare together with the other information you gather about hospitals as you decide where to get hospital services. You may want to contact your health care provider, your State Survey Agency or your state Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) for more information. If you have a complaint about the quality of the medical care you or a loved one received at a hospital, first contact the hospital's patient advocate. Or, contact your state QIO. If you have other complaints about a health care facility, contact your State Survey Agency. Their phone numbers can be found at medicare.gov/Helpful Contacts. Additional information about hospitals may be found on the state websites.