Why Radiologists Will See Patients
Physics. Math. Medicine. Biology. Chemistry. It all comes together in the world of a radiologist, but ever more, in the mind of a diagnostic imaging specialist. Will the surgeon move a scalpel without imaging? No. Will a practitioner prescribe a pharmaceutical without diagnostics? No. Will your oncologist readjust your chemo-agents without imaging? No. This list goes on and on. And then on some more. There is no domain within the field of medicine that is not touched by the mind of a radiologist.
But it is only his mind. Where is she? The present radiologist? In an aloof room, sitting in peaceful darkness, as a patient fights a war against a tumor? The present radiologist never was, but will be.
As clinical medicine grows and matures to adapt new methods of treatment, and new modalities of those methods, we - as a society- will come to know the radiologist beyond a brief report. The report which, by the way, only other physicians can comprehend. In the near future, a radiologist will interact with patients directly. Why? Outcomes. Positive outcomes of procedural interventions will increase linearly as face to face time with imaging experts increases.
Patients respond to a deep comprehension of their illnesses from various points of view. Not just the oncologist, but the surgeon and the oncologist. Well, that will change. The radiologist will explain the depths of the diagnosis beyond what any other physician can. This is what they do, this is who they are, this is their mastery.
Radiology is brilliance at its finest, but it has been hidden away for decades. Hidden away from the public. As radiologists begin to receive the support from academic medical centers to engage in patient interaction, they will blossom like roses. Patients will benefit through a deeper understanding of their illness, the hospital will benefit from increased outcomes over a longitudinal period, and colleagues will benefit via more collaborative techniques.
But it is only his mind. Where is she? The present radiologist? In an aloof room, sitting in peaceful darkness, as a patient fights a war against a tumor? The present radiologist never was, but will be.
As clinical medicine grows and matures to adapt new methods of treatment, and new modalities of those methods, we - as a society- will come to know the radiologist beyond a brief report. The report which, by the way, only other physicians can comprehend. In the near future, a radiologist will interact with patients directly. Why? Outcomes. Positive outcomes of procedural interventions will increase linearly as face to face time with imaging experts increases.
Patients respond to a deep comprehension of their illnesses from various points of view. Not just the oncologist, but the surgeon and the oncologist. Well, that will change. The radiologist will explain the depths of the diagnosis beyond what any other physician can. This is what they do, this is who they are, this is their mastery.
Radiology is brilliance at its finest, but it has been hidden away for decades. Hidden away from the public. As radiologists begin to receive the support from academic medical centers to engage in patient interaction, they will blossom like roses. Patients will benefit through a deeper understanding of their illness, the hospital will benefit from increased outcomes over a longitudinal period, and colleagues will benefit via more collaborative techniques.