NJ hospitals band together to reduce unnecessary pediatric CT scans

Considering the perils of overtreatment, reducing unnecessary imaging should be a priority for every individual in a radiology practice. A collaboration among dozens of New Jersey hospitals aims to reduce pediatric CT scans by 20 percent.

The initiative—spearheaded by the New Jersey Hospital Association (NJHA) and New Jersey Council of Children’s Hospitals—includes educating providers via protocols and informing the public with a campaign to reduce patient pressure for imaging.

“I’m a mom and I get it—when your child is hurt you want to leave no stone unturned to make sure everything is OK,” said Aline Holmes, a nurse and senior vice president of clinical affairs at NJHA. “But not every head injury requires a CT scan, and in fact the radiation your child is exposed to could be a greater worry in the long run.”

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Nicholas Leider, Managing Editor

Nicholas joined TriMed in 2016 as the managing editor of the Chicago office. After receiving his master’s from Roosevelt University, he worked in various writing/editing roles for magazines ranging in topic from billiards to metallurgy. Currently on Chicago’s north side, Nicholas keeps busy by running, reading and talking to his two cats.

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