No Doctor Is an Island

Nobody succeeds alone. We all need somebody. Family and friends support us at home, and professional partnerships are the foundations we stand on to meet our professional careers career goals.

Radiology is well-versed in the value of partnerships. Considered the doctor’s doctor, radiologists consult with physicians from primary care and across the spectrum of specialties. This teamwork is at the heart of quality patient care and also reducing costs.

Radiology also is aware of the challenges facing healthcare, and as the target—fairly or unfairly—of reimbursement cuts designed to control spending, imaging professionals know reform can come at a cost. Navigating the recent historic changes in U.S. healthcare will be easier with trustworthy partners.

Thus the theme for this year’s RSNA annual meeting: The Power of Partnerships. “The role of radiology and of radiologists in this current era of healthcare reform requires a change toward defining and demonstrating our value in team medicine,” RSNA President Sarah S. Donaldson, MD, told me recently. “This requires that we share responsibility for the patient care we deliver.”

There is perhaps no better place to consult with other imaging stakeholders than RSNA. With more than 50,000 attendees and thousands of presentations, posters and exhibits, there are always plenty of opportunities to learn how to improve patient care. While the scientific sessions offer fascinating insights into recent research developments, a major focus this year will be briefing attendees on the shifting economic and political landscape of radiology.

As we do every year, Health Imaging is providing wall-to-wall coverage of the RSNA meeting in Chicago: Check out my chat with President Donaldson, as well as see which educational sessions our editorial team has dubbed “don’t miss” at this year’s conference. 

Be sure to check out HealthImaging.com/Conferences both during and after the meeting for the latest info on the biggest trends in radiology at RSNA.

Also in the issue, we look at the growing need for primary care physicians. With an estimated shortfall of 40,000 family physicians by 2025, physician extenders such as nurses and assistants will take on a larger role. Health Imaging takes a look at what it means for radiology to collaborate with this new healthcare team and how fresh partnerships must be formed for the sake of patient care.

As always, we welcome suggestions on how to improve our coverage. Send us a message or catch up with us at RSNA. See you in Chicago!