There’s no disputing that radiology—and the physician workforce in general—has a burnout problem. However, the solution to this dilemma is still up for debate, and one imaging expert believes it’s kindness and a focus on the little things in life that will cure what ails the specialty.
Technological advances and dwindling reimbursement have both forced radiologists to work long hours, while slowly eroding camaraderie and compassion in practice. Revitalizing radiology will require humanism, compassion and empathy, rather than efficiency improvements, Priscilla Slanetz, MD, with Boston University Medical Center, wrote in a Jan. 6 opinion piece.
“If we truly want to solve what is missing in radiology, we need to focus on the small things—these small acts of kindness that today are just so rare. These small acts give hope; they convey a deep sense of empathy and compassion to every member on a team,” she wrote in the Journal of the American College of Radiology.
“Gratitude” is a key piece of this puzzle. For medical imaging professionals, this could include daily journaling, meditating, or praying about anything for which you’re thankful. And don’t just stop there—share such gratefulness with the rest of the care team. Thank colleagues through email notes, give them kudos on social media, or nominate a coworker for an award, she suggested.
“Congratulating a resident for going the extra mile to explain imaging results to a patient, thanking a technologist for acquiring exceptional quality images, or recognizing a radiology nurse for making a patient comfortable during an image-guided procedure by holding his hand is a small gesture that bring caring back into the workplace and build stronger teams,” Slanetz added.
She believes each of these small steps will eventually have a sizeable impact on the specialty in the near-term.
“We must bring kindness back into radiology,” she concluded. “Only then will joy return to our work and all of the other challenges and frustrations that we face seem miniscule.”
Marty Stempniak has covered healthcare since 2012, with his byline appearing in the American Hospital Association's member magazine, Modern Healthcare and McKnight's. Prior to that, he wrote about village government and local business for his hometown newspaper in Oak Park, Illinois. He won a Peter Lisagor and Gold EXCEL awards in 2017 for his coverage of the opioid epidemic.