Back Pain: Appropriate Imaging for Acute Back Pain
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 diagnosis of back pain for whom the physician ordered imaging studies during the six weeks after pain onset, in the absence of "red flags" (overuse measure, lower performance is better).
Numerator
The number of patients with an order for or report on an imaging study during the six weeks after pain onset.
Denominator
Patients at least 18 years of age and younger than 80 with back pain lasting six weeks or less.
Exclusions
Patients with documentation of red flags.
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
Contents
Actions
Date Modified 02 December 2025