Patient requests for office-based imaging.

The rising cost of health care affects our economy and can impact the health of our citizens. Costs can be divided into direct costs, which are incurred in the provision of services and procedures, and ancillary costs, such as labs and imaging. While ancillary services greatly assist providers in diagnosing and treating medical conditions, they can be overused or inappropriately used and can lead to adverse events. All providers should work to order the most appropriate imaging and tests and to protect patients at all times.