Urgent care emerges as a promising setting for imaging low back pain

AI Summary

A retrospective study by Mass General Brigham examined lumbar spine X-rays for uncomplicated low back pain in urgent care. Only 24 of 2,924 patients who received these X-rays underwent advanced imaging in an emergency department within 30 days, suggesting urgent care imaging practices may affect healthcare resource use.

Low back pain accounts for some of the highest health care spending in the U.S. Given how many patients are affected, even small changes in imaging practices could substantially impact health care resource use. A retrospective cohort study led by Mass General Brigham researchers found that only 24 of 2,924 urgent care lumbar spine X-rays for uncomplicated low back pain were followed by emergency department advanced imaging within 30 days.