Critically-ill patients are often transferred between health care facilities to receive care at trauma centers, making repeat CT and X-ray scans a common occurrence.
But a new study in the September issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology finds that image transfer between regional trauma networks has an effect on reducing cost and radiation exposure associated with repeat CT scans, suggesting that PACS networks may be useful for reducing cost and radiation exposure associated with trauma, according to a JACR statement.
In the study, images were transferred for 500 consecutive trauma patients from an outside facility to the trauma center using the Internet and compact discs, then uploaded to the trauma center's PACS. Repeat rate, costs, and radiation doses of transferred and repeated CT scans were calculated.
According to the study, 8.1 percent of CT studies were repeated in 17 percent of patients. When comparing this with the literature, which document repeat rates of 29 percent and higher, and all of which are from trauma centers without the capability to electronically transfer images, the study authors conclude that PACS networks may be useful.
According to a statement from JACR, further studies to evaluate the effect of this technology on transfer time and patient morbidity and mortality will be necessary to determine the full impact on health care costs and outcomes.
