The key ingredients of a successful radiologist-wellness initiative
A new paper published in Clinical Imaging details a wellness initiative that achieved its goal of improving radiologist morale, according to a group of rads who participated in the program.
Mitigating stress and promoting physician well-being is a top priority among modern day radiology groups, as the specialty is known to employ some of the most burned out providers in medicine. Despite this, many wellness-promoting strategies fall short of enacting positive changes. This is especially true in community settings where radiologists encounter problems less common in academia.
“Community radiologists face distinct challenges compared to those in traditional academic settings, including geographically separate practice locations, fewer opportunities for meaningful collegial interactions, and higher productivity expectations in some practices without the same infrastructure support available at main academic centers,” Arvin B. Kheterpal, MD, chief of the division of musculoskeletal imaging, Enterprise Service Group and Harvard Medical School, and co-authors wrote.
In recent years, large academic centers have expanded their services to include outlying areas, hoping to reach more patients who may be less willing to travel. Since many wellness initiatives may overlook these physicians, radiology leaders with Mass General Brigham Imaging sought to design a program with them in mind.
The program involved three main initiatives—a monthly 10-minute group fitness program, scheduled social events for families and staff, and a financial wellness lecture series. Virtual options were available for the fitness program and financial lectures to accommodate radiologists’ schedules. Six months after implementing the program, the team surveyed those who participated to determine whether the changes positively impacted their well-being.
Prior to the survey, 26% of radiologists reported at least one symptom of burnout, while 47% reported feeling isolated or lonely. More than two-thirds of the community-arm radiologists participated in the initiative.
The changes were well received; 84% of participants reporting feeling a positive impact from the social events in particular. Around 34% participated in the fitness offering, with nearly half suggesting that it should continue. Similar responses were observed with regard to the financial wellness lectures. Notably, the majority of respondents favored conducting the fitness and financial programs during lunch hours. The most frequent post-survey request was for staff to have additional opportunities to connect with colleagues.
“There is no one-size-fits-all approach to wellness initiative development, as priorities vary across practice types and practice environments," the authors wrote. "This study highlights the importance of using a flexible and needs-based framework for wellness program development.”
The initiative was based on preferences the organization’s staff radiologists had expressed interest in previously. The team emphasized the importance of their feedback in developing a program tailored to the group’s diverse needs.
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In addition to her background in journalism, Hannah also has patient-facing experience in clinical settings, having spent more than 12 years working as a registered rad tech. She began covering the medical imaging industry for Innovate Healthcare in 2021.