Back Pain: Repeat Imaging Studies

Identifying Attributes

Care Settings
Primary Care
Country
United States of America
Publishing Organisation
Payment program, public reporting, quality improvement
Type of Quality Indicator
Process
IOM Quality Dimension
Effectiveness
Domain
Pain

Defining Attributes

Definition

Percentage of patients at least 18 years of age and younger than 80 with a back pain episode of 28 days or more who received inappropriate repeat imaging studies in the absence of red flags or progressive symptoms (overuse measure, lower performance is better).

Numerator

The number of patients with inappropriate imaging studies

Denominator

Patients at least 18 years of age and younger than 80 with more than one imaging study and patients with only one imaging study and no documentation in medical record of physician asking about prior imaging.

Exclusions

Exclude patients from the denominator with evidence or notation of red flags or worsening/progressive signs in their medical record in the seven-day (one week) period preceding the second imaging study.

Use of Risk Adjustment
No
Risk Adjustments

None

Stratifications

None

Collection and Reporting Attributes

Type of Data Collection
Administrative data, Electronic/paper chart records, Standardised clinical data
Data Collection Methods

Reporting is specific to sub-program

Frequency of Data Collection
Frequency of Data Collection in Days
Reporting Methods
Reporting Frequency
Reporting Frequency in Days
Indicator Has Recommended Targets
No

Source and Reference Attributes

Evidence Source
Technical Specifications
Link to Measurement Tools
Quality Indicator Confirmed to be Part of a Program Used to Monitor Quality and Safety of Care Among Older People at a Population-Level between 2012-2022
Yes
Assessed by the Australian Consortium for Aged Care Collaborators as Generally Containing Good Properties (Importance and Scientific Acceptability)
No
Australian Consortium for Aged Care Endorsed
No
Identified by PHARMA-Care Project
No
Upload Date
02 December 2025