Children's and Adolescents Hospital only steps on pediatric patients who need CT scans due to non-transmission and regulation
May 13, 2025
The Korea Pediatric Youth Hospital Association (Chairman Choi Yong-jae, head of Uijeongbu Strong Children's Hospital) deeply sympathizes with the controversy over excessive use of CT scans in children, which was recently reported by some media. ""But ""Since the Children and Youth Hospital does not even have an institutional environment to take CT scans, the reality that treatment is disrupted by not providing timely tests to pediatric patients who need CT scans within golden time should also be improved."," he stressed.
The association pointed out that "in recent years, it is not easy for all advanced medical institutions of pediatric emergency patients, and even if they are transferred, they are often delayed for more than several hours." "Although CT scans are essential within golden time for anatomical abnormalities in the abdomen, such as indistinguishable appendantitis, intussusception, and long rotation abnormalities, more than 120 pediatric and adolescent hospitals nationwide cannot possess or use CT equipment in the regulatory structure centered on adult hospitals, and patients are repeatedly struggling in front of them." he vented.
This is because diagnosis is often impossible only with simple radiography or ultrasound.
The association also emphasized that "The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommended avoiding unnecessary CT scans and minimizing radiation exposure through the Choosing Wisely campaign, and that Jeong Ki-seok, chairman of the Health Insurance Corporation, raised the issue of CT overuse in the right direction" In addition to pointing out the overuse of CT, we need wisdom to solve the problem of CT gaps occurring in the practice of pediatric and adolescent hospitals."
Chairman Choi Yong-jae said, `There are definitely patients who need CT scans medically within the golden time in pediatric and adolescent hospitals, and CT is also the key to saving lives. However, it is common to waste time visiting hospitals because there is no CT equipment, and in the meantime, it is common to miss the critical time for diagnosis and treatment.
He then pointed out that "the problem is not just the presence or absence of equipment, but the current institutional structure itself, which is not allowed where necessary, and is abused where unnecessary," and emphasized that if Choosing Wisely is truly a campaign for children, it should also listen to the urgent voices of the field that 'Do not do it'."
The association pointed out that "in recent years, it is not easy for all advanced medical institutions of pediatric emergency patients, and even if they are transferred, they are often delayed for more than several hours." "Although CT scans are essential within golden time for anatomical abnormalities in the abdomen, such as indistinguishable appendantitis, intussusception, and long rotation abnormalities, more than 120 pediatric and adolescent hospitals nationwide cannot possess or use CT equipment in the regulatory structure centered on adult hospitals, and patients are repeatedly struggling in front of them." he vented.
This is because diagnosis is often impossible only with simple radiography or ultrasound.
The association also emphasized that "The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommended avoiding unnecessary CT scans and minimizing radiation exposure through the Choosing Wisely campaign, and that Jeong Ki-seok, chairman of the Health Insurance Corporation, raised the issue of CT overuse in the right direction" In addition to pointing out the overuse of CT, we need wisdom to solve the problem of CT gaps occurring in the practice of pediatric and adolescent hospitals."
Chairman Choi Yong-jae said, `There are definitely patients who need CT scans medically within the golden time in pediatric and adolescent hospitals, and CT is also the key to saving lives. However, it is common to waste time visiting hospitals because there is no CT equipment, and in the meantime, it is common to miss the critical time for diagnosis and treatment.
He then pointed out that "the problem is not just the presence or absence of equipment, but the current institutional structure itself, which is not allowed where necessary, and is abused where unnecessary," and emphasized that if Choosing Wisely is truly a campaign for children, it should also listen to the urgent voices of the field that 'Do not do it'."
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This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
