Frequency, cost, and variation in inpatient diagnostic imaging use in children's hospitals.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Diagnostic imaging studies are frequently utilized when caring for pediatric patients. The most prevalent and costly imaging studies among hospitalized children are unknown.

Objective

Identify imaging studies with highest frequency, cost, rates of repetition, and hospital variation among hospitalized children, including patients with intensive care (ICU) stays and complex chronic conditions (CCCs).

Methods

We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients hospitalized from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2022 across 45 children's hospitals in the Pediatric Health Information System. We identified diagnostic imaging studies for inpatient and observation encounters using billing codes grouped by body system and modality. We measured imaging frequency, cos

SUBMITTER: Collins ME 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12631966 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature