Hospitals are Overusing Double CT Scans, Risking Patient Harm, CMS Finds

As imaging testing ranks as one of the fastest growing procedures, hundreds of hospitals may be needlessly irradiating patients by overusing double CT scans, according early data released from the Centers for Medicare & Medicare (CMS), reports Kaiser Health News and The Washington Post.

A double CT scan is two scans in succession that many physicians argue should be rarely used. A single CT chest scan is essentially equal to 350 standard chest X-rays, according to The Boston Globe. Medicare does not regulate the use of double scans, according to The Washington Post...