The Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA) and Bayer announced an alliance to establish the United States' first statewide radiation dose management repository for patients who undergo certain radiological procedures.

The radiation and contrast dose management and analytics tool is called Radimetrics. Its purpose will be to provide physicians with data needed to help ensure patients receive the lowest radiation dosage necessary.

Many patients undergo multiple diagnostic imaging procedures involving radiation. Because many of these procedures are done at different locations, this makes it difficult to know each patient's cumulative dose. In rare cases, if a patient has high-dose exposure to radiation, it could cause risks such as skin erythema and increase the risk of longer-term effects such as cancer. Knowing a patient's dosage across procedures may help radiologists identify risks and take necessary steps to reduce exposure.

"We are very proud to be the first state in the nation to adopt a project that will allow patients and their doctors to measure and closely manage the levels of radiation required for effective imaging and diagnosis," said Jennifer Jackson, CEO of Connecticut Hospital Association.