Judges’ comments: Lisa Chedekel packs a powerful punch in a small space with this story pointing out that John Dempsey Hospital’s used combination CT scans 10 times more than the national average and sent roughly three-quarters of patients for double scans. Such practices expose patients to excess radiation. Faced with Chedekel’s questions, the hospital’s radiation chair said he would be contacting doctors to push for change.
List date(s) this work was published or aired.
Jan. 28, 2011
Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
Using data from the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Lisa Chedekel reported that the state-funded University of Connecticut’s John Dempsey Hospital was administering combination CT scans of the chest to almost one-half of all patients who received the procedure— which was nearly 10 times higher than the national average. In addition, more than 72 percent of patients who received CT scans for the abdomen received double scans. Her story was reported at a time when combination scans were under scrutiny because they may expose patients to excess radiation. The head of UConn’s radiation department admitted that the numbers were “staggering” and added that “radiation safety is very high on our list of concerns. We’re working very hard on this, in terms of changing policies and talking to physicians to reduce the orders for double scans.” The story disclosed that most of the state’s 30 hospitals were below the national average on combination CT scans. The ones that exceeded the national average were no where near Dempsey’s rate. This story shed light on a practice at Dempsey — that patients had no idea was happening. After the story was published we heard from consumers who questioned whether they had been exposed to combination CT scans unnecessarily.
Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
Used data from the Centers of Medicare & Medicaid Services. Other information for the story came reports from the state Office of Health Care Access filed by Dempsey, and the American College of Radiology.
Explain types of human sources used.
Lisa interviewed the head of radiology at Dempsey Hospital, and a spokesman from the American College of Radiology.
Results (if any).
After the report was published several people called to say that they appreciated the story because it exposed a practice at Dempsey that no one knew about. They all talked about how they never questioned what type of CT scan they received (single or combination). They all said in the future they would ask more questions. And a Branford women called to say that she cancelled a scheduled CT scan because the story made her think about how much her body had been unnecessarily exposed to radiation. She said it empowered her and she felt good about it.
Follow-up (if any). Have you run a correction or clarification on the report or has anyone come forward to challenge its accuracy? If so, please explain.
No corrections or challenges to the report.
Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
The data is available through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. This is an opportunity to inform and empower consumers on practices at your local hospitals.