An initiative by nonprofit technology research firm ECRI Institute and the Health Care Improvement Foundation to improve CT radiation safety in the Philadelphia region is yielding significant results.
A confidential survey by the organizations found that participating facilities achieved actual dose reductions of 47%, an 87% improvement in tracking of CT radiation doses for each study, a 64% gain in having an action plan in place for managing excessive CT radiation when it occurs, and a 55% increase in auditing of CT doses.
Nearly 20 hospitals and imaging centers in the Philadelphia area participated in the one-year Partnership for Patient Care program launched by the Health Care Improvement Foundation and led by ECRI Institute from July 2011 to June 2012.
The overarching goals of the program are to make diagnostic CT scan radiation doses as low as reasonably achievable and to encourage the participating facilities to actively record and monitor CT doses, according to the ECRI and the Health Care Improvement Foundation.
![Axial images from unenhanced calcium score cardiac CT (left) and curved planar reformation images from CT angiography (right) show that higher long-term exposure to air pollution is associated with greater coronary artery calcium and more obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). Top row: Images in a 68-year-old male patient with higher 10-year mean ambient air pollution exposure (7.9 μg/m3 for particulate matter measuring ≤2.5 μm in diameter [PM2.5] and 17.4 parts per billion [ppb] for NO2) with extensive CAD (coronary artery calcium score [CACS] >1,000 and obstructive CAD [≥70% diameter stenosis]). Bottom row: Images in a 57-year-old female patient with lower 10-year mean ambient air pollution exposure (6.3 μg/m3 for PM2.5 and 4.6 ppb for NO2) with no CAD (CACS = 0 and no obstructive stenosis).](https://img.auntminnie.com/mindful/smg/workspaces/default/uploads/2026/06/hanneman.r6SMLzkezo.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&dpr=2&fit=crop&h=167&q=70&w=250)
