Who Contributes to the Ordering of CT Scans in Emergency Department Patients?

Who Contributes to the Ordering of Computed Tomography in Emergency Department Patients? A Prospective Survey Study

The primary objectives are:

1. To investigate which healthcare workers and other individuals contribute to the decision to order computed tomography (CT) scans for emergency department (ED) patients.
2. To investigate the specific reasons healthcare workers and other individuals order or request CT scans for ED patients.
3. To determine the frequency of clinically important actions following CT scan results.

Once the drivers of ED CT utilization are identified, interventions including education, incentives for compliance with evidence-based best practices, and interventions for noncompliance could be targeted appropriately.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Patients from age 0 to <17 years, and patients age 18 years and older with traumatic and non-traumatic presentations, who visit Adult and Pediatric EDs and receive a CT scan during their ED visit

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients older than 17, yet younger then 18.
• Patients who are unable to consent and who do not have a legally authorized representative.