The Medical Imaging Consultant is a reference text designed to assist the ordering physician, the family practitioner, the internist, the specialist in selecting the medical imaging procedure that will provide the greatest clinical value at the lowest possible risk.
Make the Best Selection
Arranged by clinical conditions, the Medical Imaging Consultant presents the most useful exams, listed in the order of clinical benefit. Now the ordering physician can weigh the risk, the reward, and the cost to make the best selection for the patient. Ordering the right test at the right time can eliminate the scheduling of other exams which may contribute little to the patient workup, yet increase cost and radiation exposure. In many cases, the better decision may be to do no test until other actions have been considered.
With this information, the ordering physician is better prepared to explain to the concerned patient that the test being ordered is safe and appropriate. For the patient who expects, or may even demand an imaging study that is not necessary, the ordering physician has accessible documentation to back up the appropriate conservative approach. Using the Medical Imaging Consultant helps the ordering physician explain his testing procedures based on nationally reviewed guidelines and standards.
Organization
The Medical Imaging Consultant contains a listing of the 360 most common conditions for which medical imaging procedures are ordered. It is arranged primarily by body system, for both adult and pediatric cases. Following each condition is a brief summary of the imaging evaluation for the symptom.
- CPT is the column containing CPT codes, based on the American Medical Association Common Procedural Terminology Manual, 2002 edition.
- CXRE is the abbreviation for Chest X-Ray Equivalents, a useful unit of comparison of radiation risk. One CXRE is the equivalent of one posterior-anterior (PA) chest x-ray.For example, one CT of the head delivers radiation to the patient approximately equivalent to 100 PA chest x-rays.
- Cost is based on the RBRVS fee schedule provided by CMS 2002, for total component billing.
- Risk of the exam is a composite of the risk of contrast media if used, radiation risk, and the invasiveness of the procedure itself on a scale of one to five.
- Benefit is the relative diagnostic value of each study for the particular symptom or condition. The procedures are arranged in the order of diagnostic benefit, starting with the most helpful, expressed on a scale of one to five.
- Comments are provided for individual studies that require additional explanation.
Learn more about the Medical Imaging Consultant PDA or Print Edition.
