How Radiologists Can Get Along With Everyone
Published on the Jan. 14, 2016 DiagnosticImaging.com website
By Whitney L.J. Howell
No radiologist, radiology practice, or department is an island. Without partners of all sorts, a radiologist cannot succeed. The inter-related nature of providing quality health care services and optimal patient care requires a well-tuned, communicative team made up of many members.
While your office colleagues are integral to a radiologist’s success, they can’t be the only other players to comprise the team. To be truly effective, radiologists must cultivate and maintain open relationships with other stakeholders – referring physicians, hospitals, technologists, and, most importantly, patients.
According to industry leaders, there are reasons behind why each relationship is important, as well as tactics you can use to strengthen each connection.
Radiologist-Providers/Hospitals
For the American College of Radiology (ACR), understanding and supporting ongoing relationships between radiologists and referring physicians or hospital administrations is vital to underscoring the most effective patient care possible. And, these groups always tell the ACR the same things when asked to name the most important characteristics of a successful, trustworthy radiology partner.
Every hospital surveyed reports the need for radiology partners that are aligned with the health systems’ overall goals – ones that take the time to unearth priorities, stumbling blocks, and upcoming efforts, according to Geraldine McGinty, MD, MBA, chair of the ACR Commission on Economics. Everyone is looking for a radiology group invested in the hospital’s long-term growth.
“Make sure you’re around and visible. Show up to medical staff meetings. Show up and commit to being an active participant with the intricacies of the hospital,” McGinty said. “Get to know the people you work with, and understand their challenges. Those are important things.”
There are several steps needed to reach this goal, she said. After discovering what’s important to them and committing the time and energy investment needed for a solid relationship, identify the people in your department or group you feel most comfortable sending in to talk with hospital administrators. Not everyone will be good for this job, but try not to rely on fewer than three people.
Most importantly, she said, pitch in and keep a positive attitude. Be part of any solution and never part of the problem.
“It’s a bad idea to assume what’s important to any other party. Don’t assume you know their wants and needs. Ask them,” McGinty said. “Spend your time learning about what they consider to be important and what their strategies are.”
To read the article published at its original location: http://www.diagnosticimaging.com/practice-management/how-radiologists-can-get-along-everyone
Radiology Veers Off the ROAD
Published on the Oct. 29, 2015 DiagnosticImaging.com website
By Whitney L.J. Howell
Thirty years ago, radiology had a good reputation. Salaries were high. Hours were short. Providers vacationed in exotic locales. Life as a radiologist was nearly storybook.
Today, the perception of radiology is quite different. The picture painted for medical residents and early-career radiologists includes declining reimbursement, nearly around-the-clock work hours, and more complicated imaging studies.
They’re signs the specialty has changed, said Richard Gunderman, MD, PhD, professor of radiology in Indiana University’s Center for Bioethics.
“The perception for a long time was that radiology was a great lifestyle specialty. You didn’t have after-hours duties except for being on call. Patients weren’t calling you with problems or questions about their health. You worked short hours and were relatively well compensated for it,” he said. “That situation has changed considerably.”
But, changes and a movement away from the lifestyle specialty moniker aren’t necessarily bad things. Overall, radiology has simply assumed a new role within the health care system.
To read the remainder of the article at its original location: http://www.diagnosticimaging.com/practice-management/radiology-veers-road?cid=tophero
Who am I?
I’m a seasoned reporter, writer, freelancer and public relations specialist with a master’s degree in international print journalism from The American University in Washington, D.C.
I launched my journalism career as a stringer for UPI on Sept. 11, 2001, on Capitol Hill. That day led to a two-year stint as a daily political reporter in Montgomery County, Md. As a staff writer for the Association of American Medical Colleges, a public relations specialist for the Duke University Medical Center and the public relations director for the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Nursing, I’ve earned in-depth experience in covering health care, including academic medicine, health care reform, women’s health, pediatrics, radiology, and Medicare.
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