The effect of the computed tomographic scanner on utilization and charges for alternative diagnostic procedures.
Monthly utilization data for four diagnostic procedures (electroencephalography, brain scintigraphy, pneumoencephalography, and cerebral angiography) over a 10-year period were collected from a neurological institute. The computed tomographic (CT) scanner was introduced in the seventh year. Its effect on the usage of the alternative procedures was examined using three measures: (a) computing pre- and post-CT average monthly usage, (b) comparing fitted curves for the pre- and post-CT periods, and (c) projecting usage had the scanner not been available. Projected charges were compared with actual charges, and the scanner was found to be charge-saving in the second and third years of its use.
D001130:Arizona; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002533:Cerebral Angiography / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005249:Fees and Charges; D006746:Hospital Bed Capacity, 500 and over; D006801:Humans; D011011:Pneumoencephalography / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014600:Utilization Review