"Medical
imaging" is the name for tests that create images of various parts of the body
to screen for or diagnose medical conditions. Examples of medical imaging
include CT scans, MRIs, and mammograms. The measures on use of medical imaging
on this website give you information about how hospitals use 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.
Where does the information about medical imaging use come from?
- The information is limited to medical imaging facilities that are part of a hospital or associated with a hospital. These facilities can be inside or near the hospital, or in a different location.
- The information only includes medical imaging done on outpatients. Medical imaging tests done for patients who have been admitted to the hospital as inpatients aren’t included.
- The measures of medical imaging are based on Medicare claims data. CMS compiles this information from claims for patients in Original (fee-for-service) Medicare. It does not include people in Medicare Advantage plans or people who do not have Medicare.
What kinds of medical imaging measures are included?
On this website, there are four measures on the use of medical imaging:
- 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.)
- 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.)
- 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.)
- 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.)
Learn more