Dedicated CT Scanner in an Emergency Department: Quantification of Factors That Contribute to Lack of Use

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Abstract
OBJECTIVE. The purpose of our study was to quantify the factors that contribute to the lack of use of a dedicated CT scanner in the emergency department of our institution and to identify possible changes to reduce scanner idle time.MATERIALS AND METHODS. We designed a data collection form to record consecutive periods of patient scanning and periods between patients when the CT scanner was not in use. The contributing factors for each idle period were identified and logged according to an entry system previously decided in consensus. Data were collected continuously for 11 days. The factors we identified for measurement were no request for scanning, preventive maintenance, equipment failure, technologist unavailable, room cleaning and preparation, patient preparation for abdominal CT, patient undergoing other tests, transportation delays, pending laboratory workup, and miscellaneous factors. The time attributed to the most prevalent factors was also grouped into four 6-hr periods corresponding to our dep...

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