Many Patients Undergo Repeat CT Soon After Transfer to a Trauma Center

Patients transferred to a trauma center often undergo repeat imaging soon after transfer (JW Emerg Med Jan 11 2013). In this prospective study of patients who received computed tomography (CT) imaging before transfer to a single level 1 trauma center in Vermont, investigators determined the rate and reasons for duplicate CT scanning (same body part within 24 hours of the initial scan) and additional CT scanning (different CT imaging protocol or body part).

Of 137 patients, 87 (63%) received CT scans at the trauma center within 24 hours after transfer, of which 38 (28%) received duplicate scans. Reasons for duplicate scanning included change in patient condition (16 patients), inadequate transfer of data (14), and disagreement with transferri…