USE OF MEDICAL IMAGING AT FLOWERS HOSPITAL

Acute Care Hospital in Dothan, AL 36305

Use of Medical Imaging

FLOWERS HOSPITAL
4370 West Main Street Dothan, AL 36305
Phone: (334) 793-5000

The use of medical imaging measures at Flowers Hospital display information about the quality of outpatient care in the area of imaging tests like mammograms, MRIs and CT scans. The measures on the use of medical imaging help patients identify how often a hospital provides imaging tests under circumstances where they may not be medically appropriate. The medical imaging ratings are based solely on Medicare administrative claims and hospitals do no provide additional information.

A lower percentage in the use of medical imaging test might be an indication of a more efficient use of medical imaging and Medicare resources. This is important because less imaging tests means less exposure to contrast materials or radiation. These measures are only applicable to hospital outpatient departments.

Outpatient imaging efficiency

The information shown below pertains to the medical imaging facilities that are this hospital or associated with this hospital. The information includes medical imaging tests done only to outpatients and it doesn’t include imaging tests done for patients admitted to this hospital.

Measure	Hospital Average	How this Hospital Compares
Mammography follow-up rates	5.9% Measure: Mammography follow-up rates Sample data was collected between 07/01/2013 and 06/30/2014	Percentage of patients who had a follow-up ultrasound, mammogram or MRI of the breast within 45 days after a regular screening mammogram. A follow-up rate near zero might indicate missed cancer cases while a rate higher than 14% may indicate unnecessary follow up imaging tests. Higher than 0% but lower than 14% is better.
Thorax CT use of contrast material	0.8% Measure: Thorax CT use of contrast material Sample data was collected between 07/01/2013 and 06/30/2014	Percentage of patients given computed tomography (CT) scans of the chest that were combination/double scans. If the percentage is high, it may indicate that too many patients are being given a double scan when a single scan is sufficient. A lower percentage is better.
Abdomen CT use of contrast material	5.3% Measure: Abdomen CT use of contrast material Sample data was collected between 07/01/2013 and 06/30/2014	Percentage of patients who got computed tomography (CT) scans of the abdomen that were combination/double scans. If the percentage is high, it may indicate that too many patients are being given a double scan when a single scan is sufficient. A lower percentage is better.
Cardiac imaging for preoperative risk assessment	7.1% Measure: Cardiac imaging for preoperative risk assessment Sample data was collected between 07/01/2013 and 06/30/2014	Percentage of patients who received cardiac imaging stress tests before low-risk outpatient surgery. If the percentage is high, it may indicate that too many cardiac scans were done before low-risk surgeries. A lower percentage is better.
Simultaneous use of brain CT and sinus CT	2.7% Measure: Simultaneous use of brain CT and sinus CT Sample data was collected between 07/01/2013 and 06/30/2014	Percentage of patients with brain computed tomography (CT) scans who also got a sinus CT scan at the same time. If the percentage is high, it may indicate that too many patients are being given brain and sinus scan, when a single scan is sufficient. A lower percentage is better.