Private radiology practices offer 4 tips for navigating work-from-home challenges

Four radiologists in private practice are offering advice for peers on how to navigate work-from-home challenges in the post-COVID employment climate. 

Corresponding author Andrew K. Moriarity, MD, MBA, and colleagues detailed their thoughts in a “Private Practice Perspective” piece published Tuesday in JACR. They highlight previous reports indicating a 65% expansion of home workstations in the specialty and 73% uptick in internal teleradiology shifts. This includes up to 40% of facilities that reported operating with no radiologist on-site. 

“These changes are projected to have long term, lasting impacts on radiology workforce operations including how often radiologists can complete their work from home (WFH),” Moriarity, executive VP of Advanced Radiology Services, Grand Rapids, Michigan, and colleagues wrote July 15. “Of note, the desire to continue or even expand WFH varies across settings and is higher in private practices and community practices compared to hospital-owned facilities and academic institutions.” 

One of the four author’s workplaces (the piece doesn’t specify) recently examined scheduling needs with an eye toward optimizing work shifts and establishing equity. Both practice leaders and rank-and-file rads met with hospital and facility stakeholders to determine the best hybrid staffing model, accounting for different subspecialties and workloads. 

“The group ultimately decided on a combination of shortened on-site shifts, most commonly by 1 hour, to account for expected standard commuting time, higher WFH productivity expectations, and specific stipends to on-site shift responsibilities that would require coverage outside of the new shortened shift hours,” the authors wrote. “We anticipate that other practices may have similar experiences, and future research would benefit practice leaders in developing policies that can help inform the next steps in this transformation of our specialty.”

From their combined experiences, they offered four recommendations for private practice leaders grappling with similar issues. They follow in brief. For the full details, read the piece in the Journal of the American College of Radiology. Their discussion centered around the hypothetical scenario of dealing with a radiologist refusing to fill on-site shifts, working from home instead. 

1. Address individual accountability with empathy and clarity: “Leaders should directly confirm the facts with the radiologists, understand any personal or professional barriers, reinforce expectations and clearly outline consequences for continued performance issues. It's critical to approach these conversations with openness to individual circumstances.”

2. Promote transparency and equity in shift distribution: “Establish and communicate clear policies to ensure on-site and remote shifts are distributed fairly. The organization should continually evaluate and balance assignments, possibly including compensation adjustments or benefits for those unable to work remotely.”

3. Strengthen leadership and workplace culture: “A strong, visible leadership presence and a positive department culture encourage radiologists to value in-person work. Efforts to improve camaraderie, such as staff events or leadership engagement, can help reinforce a sense of shared purpose.”

4. Recognize the strategic role of WFH in recruitment and retention: “Work-from-home flexibility is now a highly valued component of modern radiology practice. Successful groups must thoughtfully integrate WFH into staffing while maintaining sufficient on-site presence to meet clinical obligations and expectations.”