The use of radiographic studies in a teaching hospital.
A study was conducted on the use of radiographic studies by 138 medical residents. They ordered an initial chest film on 88% of their patients and averaged a 34% yield. Though the range of other radiographic studies ordered per patient varied by a factor of 15, more than half the resident physicians ordered an average of less than one for every two patients. These physicians experienced overall yields between 0 and 100%, with half the residents averaging between 33 and 57%. This data base was then used to derive empirical norms of radiographic study utilization that can be employed to evaluate physicians' utilization in providing care to comparable populations.
D002140:California; D003201:Computers; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D011859:Radiography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014600:Utilization Review