When I first started the clinical rotation through my Radiography program, I remember how amazed I was those first few months about interacting with the Radiologists. I saw the staff techs showing the Radiologists images on plain film, discussing patient history, and even receiving criticism on the quality of images that were being presented. My fellow classmates and I learned quickly that a student could absorb valuable knowledge simply by having the opportunity to listen to a dictation taking place on a film in front of us while patiently waiting for a chance to speak with a Radiologist about a procedure. Some of the docs would even quiz us and encourage us to find the answers to the questions they were asking, contributing greatly to the learning environment.
Today, with the advance of PACS technology and portability of computer systems in general, we seem to have lost that interaction with Physicians. The only time most of us see a Radiologist is when we need a signature on a consent form or during a fluoroscopic procedure. Any criticism we see on our image quality is typically negative, and only in email form weeks after the exam was actually completed, if we get any feedback at all. The streamlined efficiency that can be achieved by the Radiologist has improved with the ability to rarely have to leave the reading room, or in some cases, the comfort of their own homes. Just getting a Physician on the phone in an attempt to ask a question can prove to be quite time consuming. Although these technological advancements have their definite advantages, we have to wonder if they are better.
This trend is not limited to Radiology departments. A particular occurrence comes to mind when I think of other environments that these conditions may apply to. When I first began teaching and would take a 10-minute break every hour, I would usually take this time to get to know some of my students by having a short conversation with them. I would make a point to engage a different student each day, so that I could understand their perspectives and potentially even relate to them during my lecture. Within the past 5 years, I have seen a slow transition during these breaks. As soon as the class lets out, most students grab their smart phones and head out the door with head down and thumbs blazing a trail to social networking sites or to text their friends. I have not yet gotten used to the many students outside my classroom in absolute silence when just a few years before I had to tell them to be quiet and respect the other classroom sessions that were going on down the hall. I have noticed these differences in my personal life as well. Long-term friends that I used to have hours of dialogue with hardly have time to text you these days. Everyone is in constant “high efficiency” mode and we simply can’t do without instant gratification.
The rise of access to information has us all hungry for more knowledge, keeping informed up to the minute, and is making us all capable of accomplishing more using less time. So how are we to retain (or regain) our interpersonal relationships that we once had? Despite all of the new technology we have access to, it is my belief that we will need to place even more conscious effort toward bridging those relationships in our Radiology departments, as well as interdepartmentally throughout the hospitals.
If you’ve been a technologist for even a short amount of time, you know that there can be many frustrating phone calls to and from other areas of the hospital like the ER, ICU, and other nursing units about coordinating services and any required screening forms, lab work, consents, etc. What I have noticed is that I need to make it a point to speak to individuals that I regularly have these conversations with in person from time to time. Doing so allows people on the other end of the phone to know my face. It is much easier be upset at a faceless person over the phone and lose your temper. It’s even easier to trash another person’s reputation to their superior over email. But how often is this really necessary, or even warranted? Before we resort to measures this extreme, perhaps we should begin trying to handle these difficult situations in person rather than with a medium that fails to portray sincerity, emotion, or intentions.
It is entirely possible to perform our jobs and interact with our coworkers and Physicians with the utmost productivity, and with as little inter-personal communication as possible. But we have to ask ourselves what opportunities are being missed when we all avoid that interaction and resort to the “more efficient” methods of communication. Being physically in front of someone while having a discussion will not be necessary 100% of the time, but even though it may be less efficient for a moment of your day, how much of a positive affect do you think this can make for your entire institution if this becomes a frequent practice?
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