Tag: radiology

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Best And Worst Days To Be A Radiologist On Call

worst days

Some may wonder why you always may have a “black cloud.” And others seem to work only on quiet evenings. Well, maybe the black cloud or halo you wear is more than chance. Perhaps, you sign up for the easy or difficult calls without realizing the consequences of your choices. So, to advise which days you need to consider working and others you should avoid, I am listing some of the best and worst days to be on call. Here we go!

Best Days

Snow Days

If you ever work on a day with a heavy snowstorm, consider yourself lucky. If it is a state of emergency, it’s even better. Almost no one arrives at the doors of the emergency department. Why? Because they are not allowed on the roads!!! And, if they can’t drive, getting into a bad accident becomes much more challenging. Hence, you are in for a beautiful night!

Your Favorite ED Attending’s Shift

It turns out that not all ED attendings are alike! You have found gold if you find one that rarely seems to order imaging studies. Follow this attending to the ends of the earth. And, make sure to work those calls that match this chap’s shifts!

Christmas

Although not always palatable for some, you cannot find another holiday when patients sparsely frequent the emergency room like this day. No one wants to be in-house. And indeed, no one wants to receive an imaging study. Plus, to add another perk, many hospitals give free meals to those who work this holiday. If you can tolerate working on Christmas and want an easy day, seriously consider working!

Super Bowl Sunday

For those who don’t enjoy football, this holiday will treat you to a great evening. Imagine barely hearing a pin drop in the reading room. That is usually the theme when working on Super Bowl Sunday during the game. The television tempts almost every patient and physician to watch the screen. Therefore, you can pretty much expect a quiet evening.

Worst Days

Independence Day

This holiday does not lend itself to quiet while the weather is lovely. And explosives abound. What more needs to be said???

The Hours After The Super Bowl

Call it the rebound effect—all those hours of watching delay the inevitable. Injuries and phone calls miraculously appear again out of the blue. And all that food and alcohol consumed by the celebrants… Well, let’s put it this way. Every cause has an effect. Unfortunately, if you work this time, do not expect to rest!

First Day After Large Snowstorm Is Over

Everyone returns to work after that significant snowstorm is over. Well, guess what? They have to dig out their driveways or drive on slippery roads. These activities do not come without consequence. Heart attacks, falls, and car accidents are everywhere. It’s just not a pleasant day to work!

Your Least Favorite ED Attending’s Shift

Some attendings just like to order studies. And usually, the younger and more inexperienced the attending physician working in the ED, the more studies ordered. So, beware of a shift with this sort of physician. The emergency department will inundate you until you are teeming with work. Try to postpone your call to another day!!!

Great Weather

Blue skies? Perfect temperature? You are in for a rough day! Everyone wants to be outside. And guess what? That means sports and injuries. And, you are on the front line… So? They are coming to the hospital for imaging!!!!

Summary Of The Best And Worst Days

You can’t always control when you are going to work on call. However, if you have a choice, now you know the best days to work and those to avoid. Hey… There’s nothing better than a nice quiet night when you can enjoy working at a leisurely pace and take the time to learn from each of your cases. So, plan to take call on these days and avoid the other frantic shifts if you can!!!

 

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Ten Reasons Why Service Jobs Are Important Preparation For Your Radiology Career!

service jobs

For those out there who worked at Taco Bell during high school or the local Target (1) for a year while in college, these kinds of service jobs may seem irrelevant to your radiology resume. But for program directors and residency selection committees, we find these “real-world” experiences invaluable in creating a picture of a well-rounded person. Here is a list of ten reasons service jobs are crucial to your career!

People Skills

Ever had to get someone to make a final decision because they were unsure if they wanted the Dell or Acer Computer at Best Buy? Or perhaps, you had to take someone’s order at the local Denny’s. These skills are immediately translatable to situations we encounter with people daily in our field. Perhaps, you need to convince a patient to get an interventional procedure completed. Or maybe, you must soothe a patient before getting their barium enema? These people skills will come in handy!

Managerial Skills

Need the technologist to work with you when you are doing fluoroscopy? Well, those years managing the local Subway shop will serve you well. If you can get your employees to clean the restaurant floor, it is not a giant leap to having the technologist prepare everything before your next fluoroscopy the way you like!

Ability To Deal With The Real-World

Is your head in the clouds because you’ve been only thinking about abstractions your entire life? Or do you have some fundamental translatable practical skills? A few months working at your local supermarket will certainly cure you of living in a dream world! We, as radiologists, constantly have to manage real-world situations, not just the anecdotes we read in books!

Practical Problem Solving

Perhaps you worked as a waiter at a restaurant and spilled tomato sauce on your client. Or maybe the deli slicer stopped working? How do you deal with these situations on the fly? As we practice medicine, we need to have the same ability to think on our feet and “outside the box.” Working in service jobs is excellent practice!

Workplace Diversity

When you work at the local McDonald’s, you encounter all races, socioeconomic classes, and cultures. What do we do as radiologists? Well, we also need to take into account these factors for our patients and staff. If you have never had the experience of working with a diverse population, you will not understand the nuances of daily radiology work!

Teamwork

Have you only experienced the artificial environment of working with others at school? Or, have you needed to work as a team to make those sales at the Gap? Working in service jobs is a fantastic way to get this experience!

Understanding of Business Bottom Line

Ever had to run a business to pay your employees and make ends meet? You don’t get that experience by reading books! Instead, it would help if you involved yourself firsthand. And you know what? Radiology is a service business like any other. We need to meet the bottom line too. Now, we know you can empathize with our work!

Conflict Resolution

For those of you that never held a real service job, it is difficult to comprehend how to solve conflicts among your staff. A little practice at your local drug store routinely calming your clientele as they wait to fill their prescription goes a long way toward solving conflicts with your patients and staff as a radiologist!

Ability To Handle New Technology

Maybe, you had to learn an entirely new register at the local hardware store. Or, perhaps, the engraving tools changed. You need to know these new tools very quickly. Guess what? Changes happen in radiology all the time. See, these service jobs are an introduction to our world!

Service Jobs And The Bottom Line

Working in the service industry before beginning a radiology residency is no joke. We, as program directors, truly value the efforts that you have made to work a real job. Whether it is conflict resolution, problem-solving, or learning how to be part of a team, your experience in the service industry will help prepare you for our line of work. So, go forth, don’t be embarrassed, and add that job to your resume. It can only help your cause!

(1) Target is an affiliate of this website

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Nighthawk: A Viable Career Option For Radiologists?

nighthawk

When you think about the field of radiology, do you picture yourself working from dusk to dawn for years at a time? I suspect that most of you have not. More likely, you’ve probably dreamed of a 9-5 job with an occasional call on weekends and evenings. So, what do you lose out on by beginning a career as a nighthawk? And, are there any permanent advantages to working as a Nighthawk for years? Let’s delve into the main issues of working as a radiology Nighthawk.

Why Nighthawk Can Be So Difficult

Imagine yourself on the computer at night beginning at 10 pm and working until the wee hours of the morning at 7 am, reading films night after night. For most people, social and business activities occur during the daylight hours. So, when you create a schedule for yourself such as this, you essentially live the life of a loner. Sure, you may receive phone calls from attendings and medical professionals who need your assistance from time to time. But are those interactions you looked for when you decided to go into radiology? Probably not.

Furthermore, say you need to take care of some business at a bank or make returns to a store. These mundane activities turn into a real hassle. Instead of conveniently stopping by these places to take care of business, now you must reverse your entire schedule to get there. It can be hard enough sometimes to get out of work, even for me during the daytime! I can only imagine the difficulties for a nighthawk.

And then, of course, there are the health issues. Study after study has espoused the dangers of reversing one’s sleep schedule to counter normal nighttime sleep. Take a look at this article from the sleep foundation (1). They list many physical, mental, performance, and safety issues the night worker encounters. Believe it or not, it includes increased cancer risks, depression, and more. Do you want to take on these increased risks?

The Allure Of Nighthawk

Yet, wouldn’t it be nice to set up shop any place you want? Do you want to live on the west side of Manhattan? Or, maybe rent a home in Malibu on the beach? Well, it doesn’t matter if local jobs are unavailable when you are a Nighthawk. You can work from anywhere. But is it worth the sacrifice?

For some folks, Nighthawk positions allow radiologists to get their proverbial foot in the door. In some locations, getting into a practice can be exceedingly tricky. (although not as much in the current job market!) And sometimes, Nighthawk can be a solution. Because the hours are less desirable, radiologists are less likely to compete for these entry jobs. Now, you have a way in. But don’t think you can quickly work your way into a daytime position. Other radiologists in practice certainly will not chomp at the bit to take your place!

Then, working at an office or hospital with others may not sit well. Some people would instead go it alone, literally. Of course, Nighthawk from home can be a very solitary assignment. Maybe, this is what you want from life.

And finally, practices will often jack up the income stream to entice the new radiologist to take a Nighthawk position. The savings can be enormous for those of you with extreme debt (I mean greater than 500,000 dollars). Of course, it is not without sacrifice, however.

To Make The Ultimate Sacrifice- A Nighthawk Position

In the end, it is your decision. A Nighthawk position does have significant advantages, but not without substantial sacrifices. If you are willing to forego convenience, tempt fate, and live a loner’s life but live where you want and pay your debts off sooner, then maybe, just maybe, a Nighthawk position is for you!

 

(1) https://sleepfoundation.org/shift-work/content/living-coping-shift-work-disorder 

 

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Can Introverts And Extroverts Thrive In The Field Of Radiology?

introvert

Students and physicians compartmentalize the different medical subspecialties into different personality types. And from what I hear, stereotypical radiologists tend to be introverts (formal definition- shy, reticent people). But, do most of us radiologists prefer to be alone? And, can extroverts thrive in the radiology specialty? I will try to answer these questions and give you my thoughts about the personality of the folks in my field.

Are Most Radiologists Introverts?

Well, I believe that, on the whole, radiologists lean toward the introverted portion of the personality spectrum. I mean… Can many extroverts stand to sit in front of a computer for hours at a time culling through images and dictating reports? You need to spend a bit of time on your own in between interruptions. On the other hand, you probably know a few radiologists that are not wall-flowers. Most of the more extroverted radiologists gravitate toward the field of interventional radiology or mammography, fields with more frequent patient interactions. Additionally, many of these extroverts enjoy performing additional highly social responsibilities such as heads of medical staff, chairs of departments, or hospital administration. All these roles benefit from an extroverted, gregarious sort. But, these folks tend to be the minority.

Why Do Some Introverts Thrive In Radiology?

OK. So, the field lends itself to a more introverted personality. But why is it that introverts have the potential to thrive in radiology? Some of the noted qualities of introverts, such as paying sharp attention to detail and processing large amounts of data, are personality traits that allow an introvert to succeed. And, no matter what your colleagues say, introverts have the potential to enjoy fewer personal interactions in radiology than in other fields such as medicine or surgery. These features of radiology allow the introvert to thrive in his profession.

Nevertheless, the typical introvert needs to learn some extrovert skills. For example, with the many phone calls we make and the numerous technologists and nurses we must manage, it is next to impossible to bury one’s head in the sand. And to run a group as a stakeholder, the introverted radiologist needs to learn leadership skills. Completely isolating oneself from others does not work well in our profession.

Why Do Some Extroverts Thrive In Radiology?

In baseball, we find the lefty pitcher more likely to succeed because he throws differently from most pitchers. Likewise, the extrovert is likelier to shine in a group of individuals dominated by introverts. Every group needs folks that can shmooze with the right people, interact well with the administration, and lead a group toward success. These folks tend to shy away from some of the more analytical independent areas of radiology. And many opportunities exist that require the skills of the extrovert in our field. The introvert cannot go it alone!

Introverts/Extroverts- Does It Matter?

In our field, no one size fits all. We both need introverted and extroverted radiologists for our profession to thrive. A group without an extrovert is a recipe for disaster, with poor communication skills leading to anarchy. And, a group without the analytical skills of an introvert will not last long. So, let us try to appreciate one another for who we are. In the end, the best groups are a combination of both.

 

 

 

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Private Equity Buyouts Of Radiology Practices – Who Gets Hurt?

privare equity

Why would anyone want to buy out a practice? Well, like all things economic, it’s simple: To make money. And that is what private equity companies do. They take over companies so the owners can collect a share of the profits. And who exactly are the private equity owners? These folks are private groups of investors that pool their money together to purchase companies. But, unlike publicly traded companies, the government does not regulate these companies as strictly.

So, why is this important for the typical radiologist to understand? Within the past few years, consolidation has hit the radiology industry. Some of this consolidation has resulted from private equity companies buying out radiology practices throughout the United States. And, who knows? Private equity companies may buy out your current or future practice. So, here is a summary of what you can expect, who wins, and who loses.

What Happens To The Radiologists After A Buyout?

The radiologist’s destiny is the million-dollar question. (Literally and figuratively!) Soon after a buyout, you may notice that the radiology employees lose some of their ability to advocate for patients (1). The private practice partner radiologists no longer hold the purse strings to enact change. So, all radiology employees of the new private equity entity must follow the rules of the new owner/leader.

Next, contract negotiations ensue. Initially, former partners and employees will tend to get good benefits, similar to the old practice. Over time, however, the stakes can change dramatically. In lean times, salary cuts and layoffs can begin rapidly. Since former partners no longer control the salaries, these folks may have just to take what they get. During more flush times, the former partners no longer reap the potential outsized rewards.

Further, in the future, you may notice that capital expenditures decrease to save profits for the private equity owners. That new CT scanner will be challenging to justify in the budget unless it has the potential to bring in new revenues. Private equity-owned practices can no longer buy equipment with the motivation of improving care alone.

The Winners

The most apparent winners are the older radiologists in the practice who will soon retire anyway. These owners can now collect on a payday that may be as high as 10-12 times their yearly salary. (2) This added benefit, in addition to their savings from years of practice, can allow an early retirement or a more leisurely lifestyle while working fewer days per week.

Depending on the terms of the agreement, the private equity firm can also gain much from buying a practice. The private equity can skim the additional profits previously from its former partners. However, this is all variable and depends on the partnership’s deal.

Occasionally, inefficient practices may also win in these arrangements. For instance, sometimes practices spend too much or cannot take advantage of economies of scale to increase efficiencies. So, it may take an outside entity to improve profitability. Of course, this assumes that the private equity entity knows how to run a practice better than the original employer and delivers some of the added profits to the radiologists. (Many times, that is not true!)

The Losers

Unfortunately, the biggest losers are the former non-partner stakeholders. These include full-time employees and employees on a partnership track. A buyout can derail the best-laid plans for the future. No longer can partnership track radiologists collect upon the sweat equity they have already committed to their years of practice. Likewise, former employees can no longer count on a similar job structure and contract.

The former younger partners may also lose a bit in the deal. No longer can they rely on many years of good salary ahead. The private equity firm will determine its future. On the other hand, at least these former partners will get a portion of a nest egg to add to their future retirement savings in the buyout.

Unlike those practices that stand to gain from a private equity arrangement, other private equity practices may liquidate the assets of an imaging business to the bare bone and improve profitability on paper so that the private equity firm can eventually resell the company to another entity. These sorts of practices can destroy a radiology imaging center. Good employees leave. Morale declines. And ultimately, the radiology practice can cease to exist. It can certainly happen.

How Much Can You Stand To Gain Or Lose?

So, if you are on the winning side of the equation and make 400,000 dollars per year, you may collect over 4-5 million dollars depending on who formerly owned the equipment and resources. That number, combined with continued employment, may satisfy those winners in the deal.

In the losing lane, non-partners no longer have the chance to build equity in practice. If you think about it, you have already committed three years to a partnership track, and the business has not already made you a partner; you have already lost those dollars of sweat equity. So, if your salary was 300,000 and the practice partners made 500,000, you have lost out on the difference of 200,000 dollars per year for three years or 600,000 dollars. You have also missed out on the ability to collect the 500,000 dollars in perpetuity once you have become a partner. Now, you are subject to the whims of the private equity firm.

The Basics Of Private Equity Buyouts

Describing a private equity buyout is relatively simple. It merely follows the laws of economics. You win if you are on the right side of the equation (the senior and private equity partners). On the other hand, if the equation does not favor you (most employees and some junior partners), you lose. So, if you are fortunate enough to choose among multiple deals, ensure you are doing what is best for your practice. A private equity deal can enhance or destroy your radiologists’ livelihoods!

I would love to hear your comments. What do you think about private equity buyouts in the field of radiology? Any experiences with private equity firms?

 

(1) http://www.physicianspractice.com/blog/understanding-hospital-buyouts-physician-practices

(2) https://www.aao.org/senior-ophthalmologists/scope/article/private-equity-buyouts-of-ophthalmology-practices

 

 

 

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The Radiology Post-Interview Thank You Letter (Is It Worth The Time?)

thank you letter

As a former radiology medical student, resident, and fellow, I had always wondered whether the post-interview thank you letter makes a difference. Now that I am on the other side of the fence as a radiology attending, I can tell you that it can change your destiny. So, today I will talk about why a post-interview thank you letter is so important. In addition, we will also discuss whether you should physically write a letter or send an email.

Reinforcing The Connection

Picture this from the program director’s point of view. You converse with an applicant during an interview. And then, you find commonalities that connect both of you, the attending and the interviewee. How long does that connection last? Well, when you have 5-10 interviews with most of them having some sort of interesting conversation, not so long. So, how do you reinforce the excellent discussion you just had? Let me give you a hint… An excellent thank you letter!

Token Of Appreciation- It’s Polite

Not to say that Millenials are not appreciative. But, many express their appreciation in different ways. That said, an old-fashioned gen-Xer or baby boomer understands the significance of a thank you letter differently than a Millenial. It may not seem so important to you right now. I mean, how important can a thank you letter be? Well, perceptions differ widely depending on your generation. Some take insult to not receiving a thank you. Why play with fire? If the residency interests you, you can’t lose. Just send the thank you letter!

Networking- Helps With Finding Your Next Job

For those who do not know, program directors, fellowships directors, and chairpersons talk about their applicants. And sometimes, a great applicant may not rank highly enough in a program to match. Or perhaps, there are a whole bunch of applicants for one attending position. In this case, each applicant was great, but only one fits the bill. You never know. So sometimes, the thank you note receiver can give that push for the interviewer to mention your name to another bigwig because you wrote such a nice thank you letter. You never know… It can get you that next job.

Can Increase Your Ranking

Not to mention names of programs… But, at some programs, a thank you letter will bump you up a few notches in a rank list. Or, when there are many applicants for one job, and only one writes a thank you note, you significantly increase your chances of being selected for the post. So, just go ahead and do it!

Email Vs. Written- The Big Controversy

Based on the reasons above, I think I have easily supported the argument for writing the thank you note. Now, the even more pressing question (drum roll, please…): Do you write a handwritten thank you note? Or is shooting off a simple email enough?

I have less intense feelings about whether you should write or email. Let me give you an example. For someone like me, who has the worst handwriting since the dawn of language, I think a handwritten letter would counteract any positives of writing a thank you note. (I can picture the reader saying, “What the hell is that? This guy is disorganized and messy. Look at that handwriting. I’m not taking him here!”) On the other hand, for those of you that have great handwriting, a written thank you note can seem more personal and add to your application. I’ve seen some incredible thank you letters with a beautiful script that impress me.

So basically, the answer to this question, unfortunately, is: that it depends. On the other hand, a thank you note is almost always better than no thank you note. So, if you feel more comfortable writing an email instead of a written thank you letter: go for it!!!

The Thank You Letter Summarized

So, we now know how the thank you letter supports your application. And, it probably does not matter whether or not it is handwritten. Therefore, if you want to reinforce your connections, show that you are respectful, increase your chances of quality networking, and possibly increase your ranking or the possibility of getting that next job, bite the bullet and just write that thank you letter. There is no downside!!!

 

 

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Addressing Referrer Psychology In The Radiology Report

psychology

What are the most important differences between most resident and attending reports? Residents’ dictations tend to be one size fits all. On the other hand, the attending will usually look at the referrer’s name and specialty before starting with a dictation. Then, he integrates referrer psychology into the report. And finally, seasoned attendings will approach a dictation as a solution to the specific clinician’s problem.

Why is it important to address these differences? The primary reason for radiology’s existence is to provide solutions for our fellow physicians to come back for more. So, we must satisfy our referrers’ needs in our reports before anything else. And therefore, we need to individualize these solutions in every dictation we complete. For today, I aim to teach how residents and even junior radiologists can change their “one size fits all” reports into a report with a laser-like focus that answers the referrers’ questions. Let’s do just that!

Addressing Pertinent Positives And Negatives

Take a look at a great radiologist’s dictation. If the patient has a history of an abdominal aortic aneurysm, you will see statements about dissection, rupture, mural thickening, or ulceration. Or, if the patient has prostate cancer, the dictation will detail the sclerotic osseous lesions, iliac and inguinal nodes, liver lesions, the prostatic bed, and pulmonary nodules. You are much less likely to observe these relevant findings in the resident’s dictation. It is more likely to be a bland checklist. Addressing the pertinent information goes a long way to addressing the psychology of the ordering clinician.

Keep In Mind What The Referrer Wants To Know

Typically, the first paragraph of the findings should answer the clinician’s question. Logically, this makes sense. The clinician most likely analyzes only the first part of the findings and impression, if any. In addition, make sure to start with those items that contain the most critical information—then run down the findings in order of importance. For the clinician reading the report, the priority order clarifies what is most important. Dissimilar to the typical resident dictation, its goal remains clear, to answer the clinician’s question appropriately.

Give Some Leeway To The Referring Clinician

A clinician does not like to be hemmed in by the requirements of the report. So, make sure to give the clinician that leeway. Do not lock in on one diagnosis, forcing her to pursue that avenue. What do I mean by that? I will give you two examples.

First, give all the relevant likely diagnoses. If you start talking about something in-depth that is unlikely to be the cause of the patient’s illness, in essence, you may force the hand of the clinician to pursue the wrong diagnosis to the cost of poor patient care and expense to the system.

Second, you can legally bind the clinician to perform an unneeded procedure if you recommend a biopsy without an alternative. If for some reason, something goes awry and the doctor does not pursue that avenue, legal consequences can follow. So, be careful what you say!

Don’t Leave The Referrer Hanging

I like to call this waffling. Instead of giving many differentials, make sure to come down on those most likely to be the diagnosis. Always attempt to attach probabilities to the different possibilities. This process makes it much easier for the physician to provide appropriate testing and quality care.

Ask For More History

You may think the clinician will get annoyed if you ask him for more information. But, it is usually the opposite psychology. It shows you are taking the initiative. And, you are more likely to create a relevant report that will be helpful to the patient and the clinician. Rarely does a good history ruin a report!

Communicate The Results More Effectively

After you complete the report, check it over multiple times. Few things bother the referrer more than reports with incomplete, unintelligible sentences. Perhaps unwillingly, you leave out the word “no” somewhere in your dictation. Believe it or not, this can be crucial to the clinician’s treatment plan. Most of the time, the unnecessary phone calls I receive are for the occasional grammatical or incidental mistake in the dictation. It happens to everyone. But, try to minimize this effect by checking your work!

Summary On Addressing Referrer Psychology

To create a sound report that helps the clinician, you need to get into the mind of the ordering doctor. So, think like a clinician. Put all the relevant information into the dictation without the fluff, always keep in mind the goal of the ordering doctor, make sure to give some leeway to the physician, get an appropriate history, and make sure you look over your report so that it makes sense. Not only will the referrer appreciate your dictations more, but your patients will receive better care too!

 

 

 

 

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Should I Attend The Radiology Department Holiday Party?

holiday party

 

It’s almost that time of the year. And if you have not received an invitation yet, it will probably arrive in your email or mailbox soon. Yep… It’s time for the annual radiology department holiday party.

Our department has hosted a party every year since I started as an attending in my practice. (over 17 years ago!) Faculty expect most of our residents to attend the festivities since it is such a deep-seated tradition at our organization. And most do.

But what if you are on the fence? Maybe you have other obligations or are not the party-goer type. Whatever the case may be, you need to decide whether to attend or not. Well, I am here to help you with that decision! Let’s go through six reasons you should try to make that holiday party if possible.

Esprit De Corps

You are not just a radiologist but also a team member. Showing up displays your pride in the organization and lets everyone else know you care about the department. Now, all the others will understand that you are a team player, too!

Befriending Your Colleagues

What better opportunity to get to know your colleagues? Not just your fellow residents but the technologist who works down the hall and the nurse who cares for your patients. You can finally see these people not just as hospital employees but also as living human beings. You can even dance the Macarena on the dance floor with them, too!

Get To Know Your Attendings

It can be hard to get to know your bosses when they are involved in patient care and running a residency, telling you what to do. You may feel uncomfortable with the party because you now must sit down with them and chat. Now, you can spend time with your “difficult attendings” in an environment unrelated to your primary occupations. Who knows? Maybe it will lead to an excellent recommendation!

To Be Polite

You know… Someone had to shell out the money for the party. And the radiology department invited you to enjoy a party with them. Is it nice to skip out on an event created just for the benefit of all to enjoy? Not really!

Getting Involved

You can’t always study. Sometimes, you have to get out there and get involved. Getting involved can be as simple as showing up early to work up your patients. But it can also mean attending a party. You’ve signed up for this residency. So, show up for the events!

Find Out What Really Happens In The Department

Few better opportunities arise that allow the resident to see what happens in the radiology department. When the attendings “let their hair loose” and have a few drinks, you know who plays with whom. And, you get the real low down about what goes on. You can’t learn everything from a book!

Is It That Important to Attend The Holiday Party?

Yes!!! We struggle all year to work hard to learn and improve patient care. It’s now time to take some time aside to get to know our department. Let us enjoy the fruits of our labor together!

 

 

 

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Paid Surveys For Radiologists Revisited

Completing paid surveys is probably one of the easiest methods of earning some extra cash on the side. And as we know, when you have hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt, every little bit helps. In addition to the extra cash, surveys have enabled me to learn more about some of the newest radiology technology and products that I may not have learned about otherwise.

In the past, I have briefly addressed opportunities for completing paid surveys in my prior post called Alternative Careers And Supplemental Income For The Radiologist. But today, I thought I would go into some more detail about surveys since I regularly participate. So, let’s start by talking about the general rules for deciding when it makes sense to complete a survey, go through the different types of surveys, and then finally delve into some of the opportunities that are available out there based on my own experiences.

My General Rules For Deciding If A Survey Is Worth The Effort

You will find that surveys vary widely in the amount of time and effort for a given amount of cash. Unless you really enjoying completing surveys for free, survey companies should compensate you well for your knowledge and time. Remember, even medical students usually have more education than the folks giving out the surveys. And, education comes at a price. So, I would recommend to not allow the survey companies to take advantage of your goodwill.

In fact, let me give you my rule of thumb. A survey company should compensate you at a rate similar to or greater than what you would earn by moonlighting. What do I mean by that? If you are a resident and you can make 100 dollars per hours by working an extra shift, then you should work at a rate no less than 100 dollars per hour. That means if you work on a survey for 15 minutes, you should get paid no less than 0.25×100 dollars or 25 dollars for your time.

Also, make sure not fall for the sweepstakes entry reward for completing a survey. Usually, there is no guarantee you will win. And, you are essentially providing a free consultation.  You are worth much more than that!

Finally, if you need to travel to complete the survey, make sure you calculate the amount it costs to get to the survey. Deduct that amount from the survey fees to come up with a final total to decide if the survey is worth your time. Or even better, have the survey company reimburse you for the travel expenses.

The One Exception To My Rules

But, of course, I have one exception to the rules. (Just like there always is!) If you have nothing else to do at the time, then I permit you to consider completing a survey for less. Why do I think that is a reasonable exception? Well, getting paid for doing something is always better than doing nothing, even if you are not getting paid what you are worth. Hell, you have lots of bills to pay for your medical school training!

What Are The Different Types Of Surveys?

Surveys opportunities vary widely. These include the standard online questionnaire, participation in a phone interview, a direct interview with a survey manager, and sitting on an expert panel. Out of the different varieties, I find the online questionnaire to be the least thought-provoking and energy draining. Other forms of surveys require more active participation. You need to be awake to answer the questions!

In addition, survey companies attend national conferences and offer opportunities for radiologists. Take advantage of these opportunities when they avail themselves. Often times, these opportunities can be the most lucrative.

Overall Best Survey Companies For Radiologists

Over the years, I have found that at any given time, the best survey companies change. Depending upon your specialty, the best radiology survey company may vary. Presently, the following companies still give me the most opportunity to complete paid radiology related surveys at the highest rates: GLG Group and M3 Research. In fact, I remain an affiliate of both of these companies since I complete these companies’ surveys regularly. Of course, other survey companies every once in a while ask for my opinions. On the whole, GLG Group and M3 Research still give me the most opportunities.

Final Thoughts

Although no magic bullet exists for getting rid of student debt, survey opportunities can give a significant boost to your bottom line. Try to avail yourselves of the opportunities when they arise. Who knows? You may even learn or thing or two!

 

 

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When A Disaster Strikes- A Radiology Resident’s Role

disaster

 

 

It’s ironic. A while back, I started to write about disasters and radiology residency in the evening, only to wake up the following day with Las Vegas headlines screaming about a disaster with mass casualties, gunshot wounds, and severe injuries to over 500 people from a crazed gunman. Unfortunately, these poor victims needed immediate care. And we, as radiologists, were in the trenches. It is only a matter of time before we may encounter a horrible situation such as this.

Perhaps, you are on call at the time. Or maybe, you are the only radiologist in the hospital covering this affected population. Again, we are not discussing a bus collision with a few victims. No. I’m talking about a mass casualty such as this one where hundreds or perhaps, thousands get injured at a time—a dirty bomb, a World Trade Tower-like incident. What should you do first? Who would you contact to help? How would you cope? Where would you go? Let’s sort through some general rules and think through these issues together.

Make Sure You Are Safe To Perform Your Duties

It goes without saying. For you to perform your duties as a radiologist, first and foremost, you must ensure that you are safe. Is there an active shooter in the building? Get out. Are you in a place of radioactive fallout? Move further from the epicenter. You cannot do your job unless you are alive and healthy. So, be aware of your surroundings.

OK. So, you feel reasonably safe at your post. But, you are not done with maintaining your safety. Be aware of the mass casualty situation. Is it chemical exposure or radioactive contamination? Perhaps, an airborne illness. Follow the rules to avoid further exposure to provide the most help to the maximum number of victims.

Does Your Department Have Electricity?

This question might sound a bit silly. But, unique to radiologists, we rely almost entirely on the ability of the facility to generate electricity—no electricity and no x-rays, MRIs, CTs, and so forth. If there is no power, you will unlikely be able to help as much as a radiologist. (except for battery-powered ultrasounds) Instead, you may be only able to help as a treating clinical physician.

Take The Time To Call For Backup

Next… When hundreds or thousands of victims require acute medical care, and you have electricity at your facility, one lone radiologist is unlikely to be able to provide imaging services for everyone. Call the covering attending radiologist in a mass casualty such as this one. Now, you can decide if you need more coverage to interpret or perform all these studies rapidly.

Triage, Triage, Triage

Unlike standard operations, you no longer have the luxury of providing any study to anyone. In this situation, all the hospital’s imaging resources will run out. So, you are in a position to ensure that the appropriate victims receive the correct studies (the art of triage!).

The treating physicians are not experts in imaging. You are. So, you need to monitor appropriateness criteria like a hawk. You want to save the most lives. Only the sickest and most needy patients should receive imaging first. And, of course, they need the correct study.

Read Where Help Is Needed

Perhaps, you are dealing with lots of inhalation injuries. Well, then, concentrate on the chest X-rays. Or maybe, tons of gunshot wounds. Read the CT scans. You should read what is most needed.

Assess What Happened And Create An Action Plan

So, you’ve run through all the initial steps of our disaster protocol recommendations. And you’ve made it through the disaster scenario. What do you do next? It’s simple: Assess the disaster situation and create an action plan.

Creating a radiology action plan becomes essential so that if disaster strikes twice, you know the best ways to handle it. Your hospital should have a radiology emergency protocol even before the disaster. (Not all hospitals do!) So, now is your opportunity to contribute to or create your own hospital’s disaster committee. Make the plan as efficient and as practical to implement as possible.

Disaster Management Summary

No matter how you slice it, as a radiologist and a physician, a disaster scenario can be complicated. So, you need to follow some of these general rules to make running a disaster protocol as efficient and safe as possible for you, the radiologist, and the patient. Be safe, call for backup, triage, and use appropriate resources. Finally, remember that assessing the situation is crucial and developing an action plan (hopefully before the incident!). Next time, if it happens, you will be ready as you can be!