Computed Tomography Unit Research Articles

Utilization of head computed tomography units: in installations with greater than two-and-a-half years' experience.

Utilization and economic data from head computed tomography (HCT) units providing more than 2 1/2 years' experience are compared with data from installations in 1976. The average unit operates 60 hr/wk, examining 63 patients. Nearly half the examinations are "double" studies, requiring about 53 minutes. The annual total technical cost is approximately $383,000. Charges have been reduced since 1976. While technical charges are lower in high-volume institutions, professional charges are higher. Usual charges and expected net revenues are above Medicare maximum allowable charges. Most units meet the national guidelines. There is considerable variation in data from individual facilities; a "typical" HCT unit cannot be defined.

Utilization of body computed tomography units: in installations with greater than one-and-a-half years' experience.

Utilization and economic data from body computed tomography (BCT) units with more than 1 1/2 years' experience are compared to data in 1977. The average unit operates 52 hr./wk., examining 34 patients. Head studies constitute 55% of examinations, abdominal and pelvic 38%. The total technical cost of examining 35 patients/wk. is approximately $384,000. Charges have been reduced since 1977 by approximately 5%; the average annual loss is about $77,000. Technical and professional charges are lower in high-volume institutions. Current Medicare maximum allowable charges are below BCT costs and charges. Only 17% of installations meet the National Guidelines of 2,500 patient examinations per year.

Economic analysis of computed tomography units

All operating CT installations in the United States were surveyed in January 1976; data were obtained from 98 of 140 installations. Although the respondents represented 80 head units and 18 head and body units, the overwhelming experience was with head CT studies. CT equipment was installed in an average of 1.3 months, operated 64 hr per week and examined 50-55 patients per week. A downtime of 7 hr per week was reported. Radiologists are responsible for 92 of 98 installations, and 90% of installations are in a hospital. The scheduling delay averages 1.6 days for inpatients and 11.5 days for outpatients. The delay is increasing in many installations. The estimated total yearly technical cost is +325,000-+371,000 per installation, depending upon patient volume. The estimated technical cost per patient (when 50 patients per week are studied) compares favorably with the estimated net revenue per patient from the average basic technical charge (+130 compared to +138). A separate billing method is used by 59% of installations, and 76% have an extra charge for contrast injection and additional studies; 60% of patients receive contrast. The reported total charges during the last 3 months were higher in installations that (1) charged additionally for contrast, (2) were located in outpatient settings, and (3) had nonradiologists as the responsible physician. It should be emphasized that most CT installations are not independent activities and should be considered an integral part of a diagnostic radiology department or office.