Use of ankle magnetic resonance imaging in the active duty military population: the results of a process improvement project.

Background: Preventing overuse of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for diagnosing ankle pathology was the goal of a process improvement project at a military treatment facility.

Methods: Ordering patterns for MRI of nonorthopaedic providers and orthopaedic surgeons were evaluated over 2 separate periods. An educational initiative on appropriate use of MRI in evaluating ankle complaints was conducted between the 2 periods.