Logo Medical Science Monitor

Call: +1.631.470.9640
Mon - Fri 10:00 am - 02:00 pm EST

Contact Us

Logo Medical Science Monitor Logo Medical Science Monitor Logo Medical Science Monitor

01 March 2005 : Original article  

Variation in MRI/CT Utilization among Family Physicians and General Internists in a Multi-Specialty Group Practice

Glen R. Couchman, Samuel N. Forjuoh, Michael D. Reis, George Bartels, David Lindzey

Med Sci Monit 2005; 11(3): MT19-25 :: ID: 15397

Abstract

Background: The objective of this study was to examine variations in MRI/CT utilization between family physicians (FPs) and general internists (IMs) within a multi-specialty group practice.
Material/Methods: Using administrative data, we computed ordering rates of MRI/CT per 1,000 outpatient clinic visits and per 1,000 unique patients and rate ratios (RR) to compare rates between 34 FPs and 24 IMs practicing in 7 clinics located within 50 miles of the radiology facility. We also assessed intra-specialty variation. Sources and degree of variation were determined separately for FPs and IMs through multivariate linear regression modeling.
Results: The IMs ordered MRI/CTs at twice the rate of FPs (29.6 vs. 14.8 per 1,000). Although the absolute ranges by specialty were statistically similar, the variance was signifi cantly higher for IMs (86.1
vs. 52.3; p

Keywords: Ambulatory Care - utilization, Group Practice - statistics & numerical data, Internal Medicine - statistics & numerical data, Magnetic Resonance Imaging - utilization, Physicians, Family - statistics & numerical data, Tomography, X-Ray Computed - utilization, Ambulatory Care - utilization, Data Collection, Group Practice - statistics & numerical data, Health Services - utilization, Internal Medicine - statistics & numerical data, Linear Models, Magnetic Resonance Imaging - utilization, Physician's Practice Patterns - statistics & numerical data, Physicians, Family - statistics & numerical data, Professional Practice - statistics & numerical data, Regression Analysis, Severity of Illness Index, Texas, Tomography, X-Ray Computed - utilization

Add Comment 0 Comments

Editorial

01 March 2024 : Editorial  

Editorial: First Regulatory Approvals for CRISPR-Cas9 Therapeutic Gene Editing for Sickle Cell Disease and Transfusion-Dependent β-Thalassemia

Dinah V. Parums

DOI: 10.12659/MSM.944204

Med Sci Monit 2024; 30:e944204

0:00

In Press

18 Mar 2024 : Clinical Research  

Sexual Dysfunction in Women After Tibial Fracture: A Retrospective Comparative Study

Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.944136  

0:00

21 Feb 2024 : Clinical Research  

Potential Value of HSP90α in Prognosis of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.943049  

22 Feb 2024 : Review article  

Differentiation of Native Vertebral Osteomyelitis: A Comprehensive Review of Imaging Techniques and Future ...

Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.943168  

23 Feb 2024 : Clinical Research  

A Study of 60 Patients with Low Back Pain to Compare Outcomes Following Magnetotherapy, Ultrasound, Laser, ...

Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.943732  

Most Viewed Current Articles

16 May 2023 : Clinical Research  

Electrophysiological Testing for an Auditory Processing Disorder and Reading Performance in 54 School Stude...

DOI :10.12659/MSM.940387

Med Sci Monit 2023; 29:e940387

0:00

17 Jan 2024 : Review article  

Vaccination Guidelines for Pregnant Women: Addressing COVID-19 and the Omicron Variant

DOI :10.12659/MSM.942799

Med Sci Monit 2024; 30:e942799

0:00

14 Dec 2022 : Clinical Research  

Prevalence and Variability of Allergen-Specific Immunoglobulin E in Patients with Elevated Tryptase Levels

DOI :10.12659/MSM.937990

Med Sci Monit 2022; 28:e937990

0:00

01 Jan 2022 : Editorial  

Editorial: Current Status of Oral Antiviral Drug Treatments for SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Non-Hospitalized Pa...

DOI :10.12659/MSM.935952

Med Sci Monit 2022; 28:e935952

0:00

Your Privacy

We use cookies to ensure the functionality of our website, to personalize content and advertising, to provide social media features, and to analyze our traffic. If you allow us to do so, we also inform our social media, advertising and analysis partners about your use of our website, You can decise for yourself which categories you you want to deny or allow. Please note that based on your settings not all functionalities of the site are available. View our privacy policy.

Medical Science Monitor eISSN: 1643-3750
Medical Science Monitor eISSN: 1643-3750