BACKGROUND: The practice of repeating computed tomography (re-CT) is common among @entity130 @entity1 transferred between hospitals incurring additional cost and radiation exposure. This study sought to evaluate the effectiveness of implementing modern cloud-based technology (lifeIMAGE) across a regional @entity130 system to reduce the incidence of re-CT imaging. METHODS: This is a prospective interventional study to evaluate outcomes after implementation of lifeIMAGE in January 2012. Key outcomes were rates of CT imaging, including the rates and costs of re-CT from January 2009 through December 2012. RESULTS: There were 1,081 @entity130 @entity1 transferred from participating hospitals during the study period (657 @entity1 before and 425 @entity1 after implementation), with the overall re-CT rate of 20.5%. Rates of any CT imaging at referring hospitals decreased (62% vs. 55%, p < 0.05) and also decreased at the accepting regional Level I center (58% vs. 52%, p < 0.05) following system implementation. There were 639 @entity1 (59%) who had CT imaging performed before transfer (404 @entity1 before and 235 @entity1 after implementation). Of these @entity1 , the overall re-CT rate decreased from 38.4% to 28.1% (p = 0.01). Rates of re-CT of the head (21% vs. 11%, p = 0.002), chest (7% vs. 3%, p = 0.05), as well as abdomen and pelvis (12% vs. 5%, p = 0.007) were significantly reduced following system implementation. The cost of repeat imaging per @entity1 was significantly lower following system implementation (mean charges,  1,046 vs.  589; p < 0.001). These results were more pronounced in a subgroup of @entity1 with an Injury Severity Score (ISS) of greater than 14, with a reduction in overall re-CT rate from 51% to 30% (p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: The implementation of modern cloud-based technology across the regional @entity130 system resulted in significant reductions in re-CT imaging and cost. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic/care management study, level IV; economic analysis, level IV.

Implementation of an image sharing system significantly reduced repeat computed tomographic imaging in a regional XXXX system.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients', 'patient'] @entity130 :: ('MESH:D014947', 'Disease') :: ['trauma']
@entity130 :: (MESH:D014947,Disease) :: ['trauma']
