Radiologists must play central role in improving the patient experience. Experts offer tips
Monday, April 26, marks the start of National Patient Experience Week, serving as a reminder of the pivotal role radiologists play in improving healthcare consumers’ interaction with the system.
Members of the specialty are encouraging their peers to celebrate this event and take a little extra time to wow patients while acknowledging staff members who go above and beyond.
“As radiologists, we play a central role in providing high-quality care for our patients and communities—but we can’t do it alone,” Arun Krishnaraj, MD, chair of the American College of Radiology’s Commission on Patient- and Family-Centered Care and an associate professor with the University of Virginia, wrote in a blog post shared Thursday. “With collaboration among our fellow radiologists, referring providers, administrative colleagues, and patients themselves we can continue to empower each other to provide the best care for all,” he added.
To help radiology departments and practices get in the PX Week spirit, ACR has compiled a handful of resources, such as sample activities and celebration ideas. A few examples include introducing yourself to patients, thanking each individual for choosing your practice, creating “wow” moments, giving out business cards, or consistently explaining your work to customers.
“The ideas and resources below are designed to celebrate your team's impact on patient experience, to provide opportunities to maintain and improve well-being, and to re-energize and enhance human connections between healthcare team members with the common goal of improving the patient experience,” the college noted on its resource page, while also steering physicians to RadiologyInfo.org for additional guidance.
Patient Experience week runs through April 30. You can read more about the event from ACR’s Voice of Radiology blog below.
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.