How leadership changes impact radiologist well-being
Leadership shakeups in radiology departments could positively impact staff well-being nearly immediately, according to new survey data.
The impact of leadership within a health system overall is well established, but the roles of those who hold supervisory positions within specific divisions are just as important, though often overlooked. A new report published in Academic Radiology further delves into how leadership changes at the divisional level affect morale, revealing that they often do not take long to positively impact a department.
The new data come amid increasing demand for radiology services and reports of burnout within the specialty, making the findings worth consideration by organizational leaders, authors of the paper contend.
“An area that has gained recognition fairly recently as a potential target for increasing physician wellness is change in divisional leadership to promote a culture of wellness,” Danika Baskar, MD, with the department of radiology and imaging sciences at Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, and colleagues explained. “Within the existing literature, little is known about the impact of a change in divisional leadership on professional satisfaction and well-being of members forming a healthcare practice.”
Between 2023 and 2024, the team had radiologists at a large academic institution complete surveys gauging their opinions on the leadership qualities of their immediate supervisor (division director) on a 5-point Likert scale. They also completed the Physician Well-Being Index self-assessment, which is a validated tool used to quantify different aspects of well-being and distress; higher scores are indicative of higher stress and decreased career satisfaction, and vice versa.
The mean Physician Well-Being Index scores decreased from 1.83 in 2023 to 0.89 in 2024. On a more granular level, the group noted more marked improvements in scores across divisions that experienced a change in leadership around the time when the surveys were distributed.
Coinciding with improved scores were responses indicating that physicians were more likely to recommend working in their division to their peers. These responses also alluded to greater satisfaction with their director, lower scores and decreased levels of reported stress.
The group suggested their findings further highlight the “great potential to promote positive improvements” divisional leadership roles carry.
“Our work also underscores the critical importance of the shared responsibility of healthcare organizations and physician leaders in mitigating burnout, improving professional satisfaction, and cultivating a supportive work environment to promote longitudinal success and well-being among its members," the group noted. “Developing a deeper understanding of the influence leaders can have on physicians working alongside them within a healthcare organization opens avenues to further explore this dynamic.”
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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.