Why radiologist virtue is so important in the AI era: 6 pieces of advice
As artificial intelligence continues to evolve, so too does the role of the radiologist. One imaging expert recently underscored the importance of virtue in separating radiologists from the machines they're growing to depend on.
In the editorial, published in the American Journal of Roentgenology, Keith D. Herr, MD, with the Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences at Emory University School of Medicine, discussed the unique challenges radiologists face in exemplifying physician virtue, as well as why it is becoming so important
"Does physician virtue even matter when the major effort of the day may not require even a single glance at a human being?” Herr wrote. “It is easy to forget the human element of patient care when our patients come to us in grayscale, frozen in time.”
Herr went on to suggest that physician virtue is at the core of what distinguishes radiologists from AI, as the technology’s significance continues to emerge in the field. Herr also made recommendations on how providers can maintain the integrity they all agreed to uphold.
His advice is detailed below:
Be mindful of the patients. Herr suggested visualizing a patient’s journey from sickness to health and following up on the their progress via reports.
Reframe patient interactions. Even brief interactions during IV contrast administration, for example, can allow physicians to personalize a patient’s experience, Herr noted.
Own mistakes. “We can model the virtue of integrity for others by conceding our own mistakes and knowledge deficits as well as forgiving our own mistakes,” the doctor said.
Seek collaborative opportunities with other professionals. Inviting referring providers to review images and attending interdisciplinary conferences both foster a synergistic environment among many professions.
Communicate findings personally. Written reports are necessary and not every finding merits a phone call, but there are instances where a personal discussion with a referring provider would be appreciated.
Be a role model. Herr suggests being the virtue exemplar whenever possible so that others can mimic it and continue to personify it for future physicians.
“In the end, no matter how smart the machines are with their algorithms and mysterious black boxes, they are no match for human virtue when it comes to preserving patient trust and the survival of the profession,” Herr concluded.
You can view the full editorial in the American Journal of Roentgenology.
In addition to her background in journalism, Hannah also has patient-facing experience in clinical settings, having spent more than 12 years working as a registered rad tech. She began covering the medical imaging industry for Innovate Healthcare in 2021.