Month: January 2023

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Perception Of The General Public Of Radiologists Versus Reality

general public

Ever wonder what the general public thinks about us and what we do daily? Here are some thoughts and fallacies about their perception of us versus our reality!

General Public Thinks Radiologists And Radiology Technologists Are The Same!

Almost every radiologist gets questions from their family or friends about whether you help position the patients to take the images they interpret. Or, you’ll get the question of whether you had to attend medical school. Well, the reason for that most likely stems from their perception that there are no differences between what a radiologist versus a radiology technologist does for patients. And, if you think I am crazy, ask your great aunt or an old acquaintance. There is a better-than-even chance they will say the same thing!

We Exist In Lonely, Dark Rooms Only

If someone understands some of the tasks we do for our jobs, they will also likely imagine us working in a dark room day and night. Sure, some tele-radiologists live that life. But, most of us still meet with colleagues, technologists, nurses, and patients. We also participate in tumor boards, teaching residents, and administration. Those interactions keep us engaged in our careers for most of us who chose radiology.

Radiologists Are Not Sociable

Here, nothing could be further from the truth. As many of you are interviewing, you will find that radiologists are mostly friendly. Sure, there are some lemons out there. But, we tend to be much more easygoing than the surgeon around the corner or the cardiologists down the hall. Many of us are interventionists or mammographers who see patients daily. Yes, some of us are a little more introverted than the typical physician and don’t do much of that patient-face work. Nevertheless, we tend to have more time to invest in ourselves than many other medical professions because we are not always on the job. So, we have hobbies and more that lead us to interact with many people!

All Radiologists Are Tech Savvy

We need to know how to work with PACS systems and spend much time on computers. But you probably know that many radiologists are not the most facile users of social media, virtual reality, programming, or other technological activities. Herein lies a surprise for many. You need to know your anatomy and a little bit of technology. But you certainly don’t have to be a techno-geek!

All Radiologists Are Rich

There is a significant variation in jobs, debt levels, cost of living, and more. Many radiologists make a good living. But, if you are hundreds of thousands of dollars in the hole from your medical school training, it would be difficult or not impossible to call these radiologists rich. Also, although academics can and do generally pay a respectable salary, it is not what many Americans consider crazy high. If you listen to Dave Ramsey, doctors, in general (and probably including many radiologists!), do not crack the top ten professions that are millionaires. It shouldn’t be that way, but it is!

General Public Perception Of Radiology Versus The Reality

Our daily reality as radiologists is starkly different from the expected existence of those not embedded in medicine. Like why we never quite get the job of an investment banker at the trading desk that trades foreign bonds, most folks will never know the sense of accomplishment and pride we take in our radiology careers. The average person may not know the difference between radiologists and technologists, our daily roles, and that we are not all Bill Gates. But it is good to know what the majority probably thinks of us!

 

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What Character Traits Make A Great Lead Radiology Technologist?

lead radiology technologist

I don’t know about you, but life can turn into hell in a handbasket when my lead technologist is absent. Noticeably, details are left undone. And, the technologists under them don’t function quite as efficiently as they used to. Of course, the responsibilities at these sites slightly differ if they work in an office versus a hospital But, I have noticed that what makes a lead tech successful at both remains mostly the same. So, what are the lead radiology technologist critical roles at your imaging center or hospital? And, what are those traits that make your department run as smoothly as silk?

Keep Of Track Of All The Issues- Organization

All the lead techs I know that are worth their weight in gold maintain records of everything without fail. They follow unread films like hawks, ensuring they have someone looking after them. And they always keep track of accreditation deadlines, both for the site and their fellow technologists and the radiologists. In addition, they might keep track of the stock, whether it be gauze, contrast dye, or tea for the employees. All this work adds up to be for someone that can maintain an organization like no other (even more than most radiologists!)

Can Rally The Troops

What good is a lead tech if the cavalry does not respect them? When a technologist is absent, who wants to pitch in to do extra if you don’t like who you work for? Well, that’s when a respected colleague enters the picture. Those techs that can command respect can also rally their colleagues to help the practice when times get tough, whether it is an absent tech or an inspection from JACHO. In times of need, you need a lead tech that will inspire hard work from their workers and colleagues.

Able To Fill The Gaps

A great lead tech won’t make excuses. They will help themselves to fill in coverage when others are unavailable. Likewise, they don’t sit on a high pedestal expecting everyone else to do their bidding. In a pinch, they will do the job of others. And it all happens so seamlessly that you may not even notice!

An Approachable Lead Radiology Technologist

In the game of medicine, personality is key. And a lead tech should also be someone everyone can come to in a time of need. If a colleague needs a sick day, they should not fear approaching their lead technologist for the possibility of retribution. Instead, they need to be someone people can talk to and trust. Otherwise, big surprises happen, And they are not necessarily for the betterment of the radiology practice.

Takes Care Of Issues Become They Become An Issue

In addition to the trait of organization, lead technologists need to follow through with tasks, so they don’t become a bigger problem later on. This knowledge takes experience, know-how, and grit. Furthermore, they must know the art of triage to decide which issue to tackle next. Knowing whether to prioritize the next hospital business meeting or a technical problem with a piece of equipment can be challenging. Which needs to come first? Well, this is up to the judgment and actions of the qualified lead tech!

A Lead Radiology Technologist Knows How To Deal With Errant Technologists And Staff

Almost all practices have employees that don’t necessarily follow the rules. And they need to call these inappropriate behaviors out, lest they become a problem for the business. An excellent lead tech can take care of these issues with style and prevent the behavior from blossoming into patient losses or lawsuits! Who said the work of a lead tech was easy?

Scheduling

Scheduling can be a constant headache. And this role is typically critical for the lead tech. Knowing where and when to schedule colleagues can be very tricky and time-consuming. But, an excellent lead technologist can easily manage the schedule, ensuring everyone is where they are supposed to be at any given time!

The Great Lead Radiology Technologist!

Bet you might not have thought about all these critical roles a lead tech plays. It’s much more than you might think. But, if you want to hire the right lead technologist, these skills are critical to the smooth running of any radiology imaging department. It takes the right person for this job, and it’s not by any means an easy one! 

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Good Radiologists Are Like Car Salespeople- Make Them An Offer They Can’t Refuse!

car salespeople

As I was on the phone with a colleague trying to convince the referrer of why I think a patient has Paget’s disease instead of metastases, I described the cortical thickening of the iliopectineal line and the lack of activity on the bone scan at the site and elsewhere throughout the body. And I mentioned the MRI was nonspecific, with some expansion of the ilium that went along with the case. The retort was that the alkaline phosphatase level was not high. And to that, I added that Paget’s disease in the chronic phase often does not demonstrate elevation of this enzyme. All this back and forth was to get my colleague to buy into my conclusion that the case was Paget’s disease, not metastases. At this point, I realized my job at that moment was just like all the other car salespeople I know! And allow me to tell you why.

After looking at and synthesizing all the images and analyzing other less definitive dictations and reports, I incorporated all the information. Then, my goal was to package all the data into one convincing deal- an offer the physician could not refuse, just like the car salesperson trying to get us to buy a car. So, how can we, as radiologists, convince colleagues of what we see, just like car salespeople persuade us to buy cars?

Give All The Evidence For Your Convictions

Like in the case above, I gave this referrer all the reasons why I thought the osseous lesions were not metastases and instead Pagetoid. This tactic is no different than that of used-car salespeople. They will try to persuade you to buy a car by explaining why it satisfies your needs. It’s safe for kids, has Apple Play, reliable ratings, etc. Does this technique sound familiar? Did you ever think radiologists and car salespeople are so similar?

Definitively Lead The Referring Doctor Toward The Correct Treatment Goal

Using more absolute terms can lead our referrers toward the correct diagnosis and, ultimately, the proper treatment for the patient. Avoid using equal probabilities and weights in our speech and our written descriptions. We can almost always come up with a likelihood for one or another diagnosis. Make sure to relay that information to our referrers. Also, try to eliminate words like “appears,” “maybe,” and “cannot exclude” from our communications. Rarely are these terms practical. And these words connote insecurity, not the message your clinician wants to hear when trying to determine what to do next. Likewise, if car salespeople told you the car might be safe, you probably would not be too interested in it. But if they told you it is the safest car on the market, that’s another story!

Be Convincing In A Nice Way, Just Like Car Salespeople

We may sometimes feel like the referrers are dullards (and it might be true!). Nevertheless, it is critical to relay our issues in a way that is not aggressive or toxic. Talking down to our colleagues or yelling at them will not get the point across as well as a friendly conversation or chat. Likewise, it never pays to put provocative subjective terms in our dictations as these are legal records for the patient. You certainly don’t want negative phrases like these to be present when you are involved in a lawsuit; it doesn’t make you look too professional! Car salespeople need to do the same. They may secretly hate you, but they must be nice to make the sale!

Radiologist As Car Salespeople- Make Them An Offer They Can’t Refuse!

We, as radiologists, rarely realize all the roles that we play in our organizations. And excellent radiologists need not only to make the correct diagnoses but also to play the role of salespeople. We need to give all the evidence, lead definitely, and be nice to our colleagues to persuade them about the final disposition and diagnosis. In a way, we are no different than car salespeople that need to make the next sale. We must convince our colleagues just as they would need to persuade their customers to buy a car. But, I would like to think that we also use extensive training and depth of knowledge (more so than a car salesman) to get to the point of excellent patient care!