Patient Safety in Imaging: A Multidimensional Approach for computerized Tomography Scans

The Jacobi Medical Center Department of Radiology analyzed the 15.3 percent rise in annual computerized tomography (CT) requests from 2007 to 2009 to identify opportunities to prevent overutilization and resulting patient harm from radiation exposure. The interdepartmental nature and multidisciplinary processes for CT requests led to the use of 'Lean/Breakthrough' methods of improvement to address decision making and ultimately improve patient safety.

The Jacobi Medical Center Department of Radiology analyzed the 15.3 percent rise in annual computerized tomography (CT) requests from 2007 to 2009 to identify opportunities to prevent overutilization and resulting patient harm from radiation exposure. The interdepartmental nature and multidisciplinary processes for CT requests led to the use of 'Lean/Breakthrough' methods of improvement to address decision making and ultimately improve patient safety.