A survey published by Academic Emergency Medicine found 97 percent of respondents admitted to ordering tests that were “medically unnecessary” as a result of external pressures including fear of errors and uncertainty. Additionally, 85 percent of the respondents said they believe too many tests are ordered in their own departments. The study, “Emergency Physician Perceptions of Medically Unnecessary Advanced Diagnostic Imaging,” focused specifically on imaging tests, and polled 435 emergency physicians.

http://www.healthitoutcomes.com/doc/overwhelming-majority-ed-physicians-unnecessary-tests-0001