vRad releases emergency department CT metrics

Teleradiology services provider Virtual Radiologic (vRad) has unveiled a new set of its Radiology Patient Care (RPC) indices.

The new indices provide regional and state-specific metrics for the use and effectiveness of CT imaging in U.S. emergency departments (EDs), according to the firm. The statistically significant metrics provide hospitals, radiology groups, and health systems with objective comparisons of their use of imaging to national averages and relevant peer groups, vRad said.

For example, the national average of positive findings for CT in EDs was 71%. The state with the highest percentage was Vermont, with 75% overall positive findings, while Washington, DC, had the lowest percentage in the U.S. at 65%. When "fall" was listed as the reason for ordering a CT scan at both locations, a positive finding was reported in 75% of cases in Vermont, compared with only 61% in Washington, DC. The national average for these cases was 69%.

If "dizziness" was cited as the reason for ordering a CT scan, a positive finding was reported in 59% of cases in Vermont and 47% in Washington, DC. The national average was 51%.

The five states with the highest overall percentage of positive findings were Vermont, Washington, Maine, West Virginia, and New York. The lowest percentages were in Washington, DC, Mississippi, Puerto Rico, New Mexico, and Kentucky. The free RPC indices are available at vrad.com.