Radiology Communication: Are We Missing the Mark?

In every profession, effective communication is essential. Radiology is no exception.

Radiologists must communicate effectively with patients, referring physicians, technologists, and even other hospital departments. The goal is to demonstrate the value of radiology and its importance in the delivery of high-quality healthcare while also having access real-time data. There are many different ways to communicate effectively.

Patient-Centered Care

Taking a patient-centered approach is essential to improving radiology communications and enhancing the overall patient experience. This involves ensuring that patients’ concerns and preferences are taken into account throughout the process, from scheduling to receiving results. Radiologists should also take the time to listen and engage with their patients in a respectful manner. Empathy and emotional support are vital to establishing trust with patients and helping them feel at ease.

One common area where many radiologists fall short is in addressing patient fears about the results of their imaging studies. This requires a delicate balance between being honest about the potential implications of a negative diagnosis while remaining sensitive to patients’ concerns and anxieties. In some cases, the patient may need to be reminded that there are alternatives to surgery in order to alleviate anxiety and reassure them of the benefits of nonsurgical treatment.

It is important to remember that the majority of patients are highly diverse and have different needs, concerns, and areas of sensitivity. For example, some patients may be apprehensive about their diagnosis because they are afraid of what it will mean for their sexual or physical function, while others are worried that the procedure will be more painful than necessary. A thorough understanding of their patients’ concerns and a genuine willingness to be open, transparent, and communicative will help ensure that radiologists are providing the highest quality care.

When it comes to discussing the results of their radiology exams, it is also crucial for radiologist to be aware that patients are often less knowledgeable and passive than they are, particularly when it comes to technical details and medical terminology. This may require more effort and preparation on the part of the radiologist in order to ensure that their communication is clear and understandable.

Many healthcare providers are hesitant to develop direct communication with their patients because they fear that it will compromise their clinical efficiency and accuracy. However, patient-centered care should always be balanced with clinical efficiency. By implementing patient portal systems that allow patients to access their reports, and by regularly evaluating patient feedback, radiologists can improve the overall quality of patient interactions.

Educating Referring Physicians

Radiology is a patient-centered medical specialty, and radiologists need to be prepared for all types of patient interactions. It’s critical that a clear understanding of the role that imaging plays in patient care is established with all healthcare practitioners. Ultimately, this will ensure that patients receive the most benefit from the images and information provided by radiologists.

One of the primary reasons that misdiagnosis occurs is due to a breakdown in communication between physicians, a problem that relates directly to the amount of information that radiologists must manage on a daily basis. A lack of communication leads to a delay in the delivery of test results, which can put patients at risk for significant and potentially dangerous complications. Ultimately, this is why it’s so important that radiologists understand how to communicate with referring physicians and make every effort to do so effectively.

Although referring physicians have a large role to play in the diagnosis process, they are overwhelmed with the number of test results and alerts they receive, which makes them more likely to miss a key piece of information that could impact a patient’s outcome. As a result, they may also be more likely to make errors in ordering follow-up tests that are not necessary or that do not improve the quality of care.

Providing patients with their own medical records is not always feasible and can be overwhelming for many patients. This can be particularly difficult for children and the elderly, who can have difficulty expressing themselves clearly or comprehending medical information. To help improve the patient experience, radiologists should offer their patients and their caregivers a calm environment that is free of distractions. They should also consider using toys to familiarise children with the radiology department and the procedures that will be performed.

While direct communication with referring physicians is not possible in all cases, it’s important to find ways to streamline the process of communicating patient-centered radiology findings. In doing so, it is important that radiologists make their referring physician colleagues aware of their efforts to reduce the potential for error and improve image ordering.

Keeping Referring Physicians Up-to-Date

The ability to communicate effectively is a key skill for radiologists and radiographers to develop. It helps them connect with patients, which in turn enhances patient care and increases the quality of their work. Taking on communication skills training is one of the most important things that radiologists and radiographers can do to help themselves, their patients, and their colleagues.

However, a common obstacle to improving radiology communication is the perception that doing so requires extra time. Many radiologists feel they already have plenty on their plate and that adding communication to that mix will only make matters worse. Having to interrupt their workflow and review the images in order to communicate with a referring physician, then having to go back and forth over an electronic report, can be disruptive to productivity. It also limits educational opportunities and may lead to report discrepancies and miscommunications.

Another barrier is the fear that if they start talking to patients directly, they will be exposed to malpractice liability. Fortunately, there are ways to mitigate this risk. One option is to follow local protocols about the circumstances in which direct communication is permissible and not disclose any information that could potentially put the patient at risk. Another approach is to hire a teleradiology service that allows referring physicians to call in to a live conference with the radiology group’s on-call radiologist and have a conversation with the patient.

It is important for radiologists to understand that they play a crucial role in breaking bad news, which can be particularly challenging for patients when it is life-changing. In addition to educating themselves on the topic, they should seek out training in how to deliver bad news. They should be aware of the impact that their words and demeanour can have on a patient’s emotional state.

Even if a radiologist does not want to take on the responsibility of communicating directly with patients, they can play a vital part in the process by relaying referring physician concerns to their supervisor or suggesting improvements at an institutional level. For example, interventional radiologist Tessa Cook, MD, PhD, of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, overheard a transport staff member complaining that a doorway didn’t have a ceiling mirror and emailed the department director who got in touch with building services to have a mirror installed.

Keeping Referring Physicians Informed

Radiology is a highly technical field with complex imaging data and findings that require specialized training to interpret. As radiologists move from focusing on scan volume to the value of patient care, effective communication with referring physicians is key for success. Several communication strategies can help to improve this important skill, including training in basic communication skills, encouraging direct verbal interaction with referring physicians and establishing clear lines of communication within the radiology department.

In addition to reporting in a timely manner, which is an absolute necessity to ensure patient safety, it’s important that referring physicians understand the results of their patients’ exams. This can be achieved through a clear, succinct report, as well as through using open-ended questions that encourage patients to express their concerns and anxieties. There are also various informatic methodologies being developed that offer tools to simplify medical terms and create a more personalized report experience for patients, such as a “patient-oriented radiology reporter” [40] that provides definitions of key words, illustrated anatomy diagrams, and links to open-source images of the relevant anatomy.

Verbal interaction with referring physicians may also be necessary in situations of urgent or significant unexpected findings. However, local protocols should be in place on how such communications will be initiated and carried out, and how the addendum to the original report will be communicated. Regardless of the method of communication, the name of the referring physician should be recorded as well as the date and time of the communication.

When discussing results with referring clinicians, it’s important to remember that it is their responsibility to follow up on the recommendations of the radiologists. In fact, one study found that when a radiologist directly communicated their recommendations to a referring physician via phone or email, compliance with these follow-up actions increased by 25 percent.

The art of communication is an important part of all healthcare professions. However, for many radiologists, it can be challenging to maintain strong communication skills, given the high volume of studies, time pressure and regular interruptions that are typical in most clinical settings. Despite these barriers, it is vital to keep in mind the impact that good communication can have on patient safety and satisfaction.