This measure provides a standardized method for monitoring the performance of diagnostic CT to discourage unnecessarily high radiation doses, a risk factor for cancer, while preserving image quality. It is expressed as a percentage of patients with CT exams that are out-of-range based on having either excessive radiation dose or inadequate image quality relative to evidence-based thresholds based on the clinical indication for the exam. All diagnostic CT exams of specified anatomic sites performed in inpatient, outpatient and ambulatory care settings are eligible. This measure is not telehealth eligible. This eCQM requires the use of additional software to access primary data elements stored within radiology electronic health records and translate them into data elements that can be ingested by this eCQM. Additional details are included in the Guidance field.
Specialty: Diagnostic Radiology
Appropriate Follow-up Imaging for Incidental Abdominal Lesions
Percentage of final reports for imaging studies for patients aged 18 years and older with one or more of the following noted incidentally with a specific recommendation for no follow‐up imaging recommended based on radiological findings:
• Cystic renal lesion that is simple appearing* (Bosniak I or II)
• Adrenal lesion less than or equal to 1.0 cm
• Adrenal lesion greater than 1.0 cm but less than or equal to 4.0 cm classified as likely benign or diagnostic benign by unenhanced CT or washout protocol CT, or MRI with in- and opposed-phase sequences or other equivalent institutional imaging protocols
Appropriate Follow-up Imaging for Incidental Thyroid Nodules in Patients
Percentage of final reports for computed tomography (CT), CT angiography (CTA) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or magnetic resonance angiogram (MRA) studies of the chest or neck for patients aged 18 years and older with no known thyroid disease with a thyroid nodule < 1.0 cm noted incidentally with follow-up imaging recommended.
Optimizing Patient Exposure to Ionizing Radiation: Count of Potential High Dose Radiation Imaging Studies: Computed Tomography (CT) and Cardiac Nuclear Medicine Studies
Percentage of computed tomography (CT) and cardiac nuclear medicine (myocardial perfusion or infarct avid imaging) reports for all patients, regardless of age, that document a count of known previous CT (any type of CT) and cardiac nuclear medicine (myocardial perfusion or infarct avid imaging) studies that the patient has received in the 12-month period prior to the current study.
Optimizing Patient Exposure to Ionizing Radiation: Appropriateness: Follow-up CT Imaging for Incidentally Detected Pulmonary Nodules According to Recommended Guidelines
Percentage of final reports for CT imaging studies with a finding of an incidental pulmonary nodule for patients aged 35 years and older that contain an impression or conclusion that includes a recommended interval and modality for follow-up (e.g., type of imaging or biopsy) or for no follow-up, and source of recommendations (e.g., guidelines such as Fleischner Society, American Lung Association, American College of Chest Physicians).
Radiology: Exposure Dose Indices Reported for Procedures Using Fluoroscopy
Final reports for procedures using fluoroscopy that document radiation exposure indices.