Radiology

Many radiologists know vRad as a teleradiology practice, but what many may not realize is that it’s also a tech company. In fact, more than a third of our non-physician team members are on our technology teams. The benefits of technology and physicians under one roof are enormous—leading to better patient care, a better radiologist reading experience, and better service to our clients.

Earlier in my career, I had accepted that reading on a disjointed and inefficient platform was normal. There I was, Dictaphone in hand, bouncing between workstations, proofreading my dictations line-by-line. It wasn’t until I started working on the vRad Platform that I truly realized how a platform could work for ME. I can honestly say I will never go back to reading on any other platform.

How well does your workstation and platform meet your needs to work efficiently, effectively, and without frustration?

In my five years working with radiologists as a trainer on the vRad platform, I observed a wide range of needs and backgrounds. This experience highlighted a critical, yet often overlooked, aspect in our field: the need for accessible workstations tailored for radiologists with disabilities or other physical limitations. This includes radiologists with pre-existing accessibility needs, those who experience an unexpected health event, and those who may develop long-term issues such as a repetitive motion disorder.

This is the first in a series of blog posts we’re calling “@vRad” where radiologists can get a sneak peek behind the curtain to see what it’s like to read as a vRad radiologist. 

As radiologic systems trainers at vRad, my partner and I are responsible for training all new radiologists on our system during their onboarding. In other words, we know the system like the back of our hands.

Today’s topic is radiologist safety nets. What do I mean by this? In a nutshell, a safety net is something that helps radiologists in their day-to-day work like automated reminders for key information or technology features to minimize errors. Let’s look at 12 safety nets vRad has put in place for our radiologists.

Radiologists reading on home workstations have become a permanent feature of the post-COVID modern medical landscape. Whether every day or just one or two days a week, the flexibility of working at home is irresistible to many top physicians – and leading radiology groups and imaging facilities should be thinking about the best ways to accommodate and support them.  

Can you recall the last shift during which you spent close to 100% of your time on clinical duties?

I can. It was my last shift. I had no administrative obligations, no committee meetings, no software glitches, no running around trying to find a physician or tech—just eyes on images and voice into the mic.

Then again, every shift is like that for me. After working in several private practices, I’ve spent the last 11 years doing full-time teleradiology—backed 24/7 by a superb support team of 51 dedicated staff.

Originally published by Michael Walter on Radiology Business