title: Diagnostic Imaging Services in Magnet and Non-Magnet Hospitals: Trends in Utilization and Costs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to better understand trends in utilization and costs of diagnostic imaging services at Magnet hospitals (MHs) and non-Magnet hospitals (NMHs).
  
  
  METHODS
  A data set was created by merging hospital-level data from the American Hospital Association's annual survey and Medicare cost reports, individual-level inpatient data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, and Magnet recognition status data from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. A descriptive analysis was conducted to evaluate the trends in utilization and costs of CT, MRI, and ultrasound procedures among MHs and NMHs in urban locations between 2000 and 2006 from the following ten states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, and Washington.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When matched by bed size, severity of illness (case mix index), and clinical technological sophistication (Saidin index) quantiles, MHs in higher quantiles indicated higher rates of utilization of imaging services for MRI, CT, and ultrasound in comparison with NMHs in the same quantiles. However, average costs of MRI, CT, and ultrasounds were lower at MHs in comparison with NMHs in the same quantiles.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, MHs that are larger in size (number of beds), serve more severely ill patients (case mix index), and are more technologically sophisticated (Saidin index) show higher utilization of diagnostic imaging services, although costs per procedure at MHs are lower in comparison with similar NMHs, indicating possible cost efficiency at MHs. Further research is necessary to understand the relationship between the utilization of diagnostic imaging services among MHs and its impact on patient outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Policy and Management, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia. Electronic address: jayaward@uga.edu.
authors.forename: Jayani
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jayawardhana
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, University of Colorado-Anschutz Medical Campus, Denver, Colorado.
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Welton
mesh_terms: D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004469:Economics, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006761:Hospitals / Q000145:classification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States; D014600:Utilization Review
keywords: Diagnostic imaging services; Magnet hospitals; costs; utilization