At University Health Care System, patients are our priority, and we take pride in the care we provide. To monitor the quality of that care, we track specific quality measures and compare them to benchmark measures at local levels. We publish these quality measures so you can draw your own conclusions regarding your health care choices. Our comparison numbers are from Hospital Compare, an online tool provided by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Its data was last updated on Jan. 26, 2012. The rates used in this chart are from data reported for discharges January 2009 through December 2009.
These measures give you information about hospitals' use of medical imaging tests for outpatients based on the following:
Protecting patients' safety, such as keeping patients' exposure to radiation and other risks as low as possible.
Following up properly when screening tests such as mammograms show a possible problem.
Avoiding the risk, stress, and cost of doing imaging tests that patients may not need.
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University
Trinity
MCG
Doctors
Aiken
U.S. Average
* Outpatient Back Pain MRI w/o Treatment First
29.8 percent
30.2 percent
27.3 percent
33.9 percent
37.6 percent
32.7 percent
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.)
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.
* Follow-up Outpatient Breast Screening
8.9 percent
21.5 percent
4.7 percent
11.8 percent
5.1 percent
8.4 percent
Outpatients who had a follow-up mammogram or ultrasound within 45 days after a screening mammogram. (A number that is much lower than 8 percent may mean there's not enough follow-up. A number much higher than 14 percent may mean there's too much unnecessary follow-up.)
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 percent 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 percent 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.
* Outpatient "Combination" Chest CT Scans
.115 percent
.050 percent
.004 percent
.077 percent
.002 percent
.05 percent
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.)
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 here 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 "Combination" Abdominal CT Scans
.077 percent
.108 percent
.226 percent
.046 percent
.056 percent
.19 percent
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.)
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 here 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.
Hospital Compare
*This is a new measure reported by Hospital Compare.
Please note: The information presented on this website is in no way a guarantee of results. Please talk with your physician if you have questions or concerns about your care at University Hospital. Updated: 2-7-12
