As a radiologic technologist or imaging professional, your responsibilities go far beyond capturing diagnostic images. You are at the forefront of patient care, often interacting with individuals during some of their most vulnerable moments. To truly make an impact, it is vital to embrace your role as a patient advocate....
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Essentia Health’s main campus in Fargo, North Dakota, is centrally located among a series of small towns whose local care options typically include acute care and emergency departments. Casselton is one such town, located about 20 miles away. The Essentia Health-Casselton Clinic prides itself on its small town roots, with...
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With existing scheduling backlogs, radiology technologists are feeling the pressure to move fast. While patient volumes have swelled, staffing challenges have left a less-than-optimal workforce with a bigger workload. A critical element of care can suffer on account of this pressure: patient communication. Effective...
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For many patients, hospital visits bring a lot of fear and uncertainty. Patients are thrown into an unfamiliar environment with minimal knowledge and lack the confidence to ask the questions they want to, leaving them feeling overwhelmed and lost. When providers don’t take the time to center the care and communication...
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Diagnostic imaging is an important part of a patient’s journey through both health and illness. But their interaction with this highly technical, sophisticated equipment and process can be daunting and produce a high level of anxiety, even fear. Providing as positive a patient experience as possible is important not only...
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The technical component of sonography is only part of the picture. That’s not exactly a controversial statement. Most clinics and hospitals pride themselves on the premium level of care they provide to patients, and that includes showing compassion and helping the patient to understand their medical situation. After all,...
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For imaging professionals, conducting a CT scan is an everyday occurrence. But for patients, the very same procedure can be rare enough to cause anxiety, particularly if their future health rests on the results they receive. Historically, the CT experience has put barriers between the practitioner and the patient. Imagine:...
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The patient experience is the bedrock of any healthcare practice. It's the cornerstone of loyalty. Quality experiences are what keep patients coming back.
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I’m not a linguist, but I find it very telling that “patient,” a person receiving medical treatment, is spelled and pronounced the same as “patient,” the ability to accept or tolerate delay or suffering without becoming annoyed. We expect a great deal of patience from our patients, especially in the emergency room. Minor...
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Are you more “task oriented” or “people oriented?” Are you more outgoing or reserved? What about your staff and patients? How are your interactions with them? About 10 years ago, I was exposed to the DISC model of human behavior. Since that time, I have made it my mission to not only “see patients” but to connect with...
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A trip into the healthcare maze can be a frightening, frustrating and lengthy experience for patients. It’s not uncommon to hear patients refrain: “Expect the worst. Hope for the best. Be prepared to wait, be uncomfortable and be ignored.” Being a healthcare provider has its own challenges as well. “How am I ever going to...
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We all like to think that each patient encounter will be a great service experience. But let’s face it; things can and do go wrong. When my mom was first diagnosed with lung cancer, she had been hospitalized for tests including a biopsy, which collapsed her lung. She needed a CT scan during her inpatient stay and no one...
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