Preventing Radiologist Burnout Is a Practice Responsibility

I’ve read more radiologist burnout articles than I can count. Most follow the same formula: acknowledge that burnout is severe, then offer tips radiologists can try on their own. 

This is not one of those articles. 

Ask yourself: what is your current practice doing to alleviate burnout? Are they providing practice-level support, confidential wellness resources, and systems that remove work and life pressures? 

This is an article about what radiology practices should be doing to create a sustainable, healthy work experience. Based on my personal experience, vRad’s wellness program is one example of what radiologists should expect. 

Ten years ago, I was about ready to quit radiology entirely. I assumed burnout would win. When I joined vRad in 2017, there wasn’t a formal wellness program. I came for the other burnout-fighting benefits: remote work, no worklist pressure, and minimal administrative burden. 

Today, I’m still practicing with vRad, and enjoying it even more thanks to their unparalleled and ongoing commitment to prioritizing radiologist wellness. 

An Independent and Confidential Wellness Service  

In 2022, vRad partnered with VITAL WorkLife, an expert in healthcare-professional well-being, to build a program specifically designed for the needs of radiologists. 

vRad’s wellness program has become one of the most meaningful burnout prevention tools I’ve experienced. In fact, I’ve become such a supporter of the program that “Wellness Advocate” is part of my title, in addition to being an actively reading radiologist. I know firsthand how crushing burnout can be, and I’ve also seen how impactful the right wellness support can be for radiologists, and ultimately for patients and the practice. I love being able to share my experience and help others both in and outside of our practice. 

Is vRad’s radiologist wellness program confidential? 

This is the top question radiologists ask, and for good reason. Without independence and guaranteed confidentiality, wellness programs simply don’t work. 

VITAL WorkLife is completely confidential. 

As someone who has access to the backend, I can confirm that the only information vRad sees is total utilization volume, nothing more. Even that is handled cautiously. I can say only that use of these services is high and continues to grow. 

What makes this partnership effective? 

• VITAL WorkLife is fully independent. 

• vRad cannot access personal information about who uses the services. 

• Confidentiality applies to every offering: coaching, counseling, family support, concierge services, everything. 

• Families included 

In addition, one aspect of their wellness program that I think truly shows vRad’s commitment to the whole radiologist is that, within their partnership with VITAL WorkLife, every service available to radiologists is also available to their families, with the same independence and confidentiality. I helped my family download the app, but I have no visibility into what they use or how often.  

What a Practice Wellness Program Should Include 

Below are the six most utilized resources in vRad’s Radiologist Wellness Program through Vital Worklife, based on anonymous feedback and utilization data. These are the types of support offerings radiologists should expect from a practice that takes burnout seriously. 

1. Concierge Support for Everyday Life Management 
2. Counseling With Professionals Trained to Work with Physicians
3. Peer Coaching with Physicians Who Understand the Job
4. In-the-Moment Support for Immediate Needs
5. Parental Coaching 
6. Legal and Financial Services to Reduce Life Stressors 

1. Concierge Support for Everyday Life Management

vRad Radiologists repeatedly say this is their favorite benefit, and I agree. 

Concierge support helps with personal tasks that become overwhelming when combined with clinical work:  

• Event planning 

• Travel coordination 

• Errands, 

• Appointments 

• Gift ideas 

• Car repairs, and more. 

Here’s a real example from my own life: 

For my anniversary, working nights made planning impossible. The VITAL WorkLife concierge arranged a private chef, handled all logistics, and turned the evening into something far better than I could have created alone. 

Why this matters: 

Reducing daily life overload meaningfully reduces burnout, especially for radiologists with high cognitive loads. 

2. Counseling With Professionals Trained to Work with Physicians 

All of VITAL WorkLife’s counselors and therapists are fully licensed, with master’s or doctoral degrees, including both psychologists and social workers, with specialized training to work with healthcare professionals.   

This is important because it makes it easier to speak openly about our career challenges and speak candidly about what they are experiencing without fear. 

Equally important: they are not affiliated with vRad, ensuring unbiased guidance and total confidentiality. 

Common reasons radiologists seek counseling include: 

• Burnout 

• Anxiety 

• Depression 

• Relationship stress 

• Major life transitions 

Why this matters: 

Clinically trained, healthcare-specific counselors help radiologists process stress in ways that directly reduce burnout. 

3. Peer Coaching With Physicians Who Understand the Job 

There is something uniquely valuable about speaking to another physician who understands the highs and lows of the career but has no connection to your workplace. Additionally, because they are not affiliated with vRad in any way, and operate under VITAL WorkLife’s confidentiality standard, you can be 100% confident that anything you say will never be shared. 

About 75% of VITAL WorkLife coaches are physicians themselves—some retired, some practicing—with specialized training in peer support. The others specialize in areas like executive peer counseling. 

Why this matters: 

Peer coaching offers judgment-free guidance from people who truly “get it,” which radiologists find both grounding and motivating. 

4. In-the-Moment Support for Immediate Needs

Sometimes support can’t wait. 

In-the-moment services offer rapid access to a counselor, coach, or peer, whenever a radiologist needs help. 

I cannot see who uses this service, but I’m grateful it exists.  

Why this matters: 

Immediate, confidential support is there whenever you need it, for both big and small crises. Immediacy helps keep small issues from escalating but also offers relief for intense or critical moments. 

5. Parental Coaching

This is a powerful and often overlooked burnout-prevention tool. Being a parent can be hard. Personal life doesn’t stop when a shift starts—it comes with us, influencing how we feel and how we show up, both at work and at home. 

From coping and practical tools for parents to suggestions for fun local activities, there are resources designed to support families of all kinds. Whether our radiologists became parents through birth, adoption, a stepchild relationship, or another path, that part of life deserves support. It’s a meaningful part of who someone is, and it shapes how they show up for each shift. 

Why this matters: 

Supporting the whole family helps stabilize the home environment, which directly supports the radiologist. 

6. Legal and Financial Services to Reduce Life Stressors 

At first glance, legal help may not seem like wellness support, but it absolutely can be. Major life events such as home purchases, estate planning, divorce, custody issues, or malpractice worries create enormous stress. 

VITAL WorkLife connects radiologists with: 

• Local attorneys 

• Financial advisors 

• Budgeting and retirement planning support 

• Debt-management resources 

• And more 

Why this matters: 

Removing complex personal stressors allows radiologists to focus on patient care and personal well-being. 

Burnout Prevention Is a Practice Obligation, Not an Individual One 

Expecting radiologists to manage burnout alone is unrealistic and unfair. 

Practices have a responsibility to create conditions that support well-being, reduce unnecessary stress, and give radiologists the tools they need to thrive. 

vRad is leading the way by prioritizing and investing in structures that genuinely improve radiologists’ lives and extend their careers. 

 If you’re a radiologist who’d like to know more about vRad’s wellness program, or you’d like to talk to me directly, fill out this contact form and go ahead and ask for me by name.