The economic impact of a recession on nuclear medicine diagnostic procedures

Objectives The economic recession that recently impacted the United States has also affected the communities of Central Wisconsin. There appears to be a decline in the number of patient’s undergoing nuclear medicine diagnostic procedures, specifically at St. Joseph’s Hospital. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the economy on the quantity of specific nuclear medicine procedures performed.

Methods This study evaluated statistical data collected by St. Joseph’s Hospital and the immediate surrounding counties from January 2008 to November 2009. Graphical analysis was used to assess the relationship between the unemployment rate and the number of nuclear medicine procedures completed. Specifically, myocardial perfusion, general bone, and positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) procedure trends were observed.

Results A direct association between these specified procedures and the economy can be hypothesized, assuming unemployment rates are indicative of an economic recession. General bone procedures demonstrate a consistent decline, which is a trend that was present before the “economic recession.” Both myocardial perfusion and PET/CT procedures show a decrease in the number of outpatient procedures with a slight increase in the number of inpatient procedures completed.

Conclusions The myocardial perfusion and PET/CT outpatient procedures demonstrate a positive correlation with the economic decline, while the same inpatient procedures do not. General bone procedures also appear to have no correlation with the economy