CT C-spine Audit and Feedback

This is a prospective quality improvement study to assess the effect of using an audit-and-feedback process for emergency providers on utilization of computed tomography of the cervical spine. The objective of this study is to determine whether providing repeated individualized feedback on CT C-spine utilization to emergency providers alters their practice pattern and reduces overutilization. We hypothesize that emergency providers who receive individualized feedback regarding their CT C-spine utilization on a regular basis will alter their practice pattern to reduce overutilization of this imaging study.

Inclusion Criteria:Emergency medicine physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistantOrdered at least 5 CT scans of the cervical spine on adult patients in the two-month pre-intervention periodExclusion Criteria:Non-emergency providersOrdered few than 5 studies in the pre-intervention period