September 2020 Ebrief

Edition: September 2020

Table of Contents

Letter from the Editor

As many practices are growing accustomed to a post COVID world many radiology professionals are balancing personal and professional activities. Early career radiology professionals are more likely to experience additional responsibilities as parents of young or school-aged children. In addition to work life balance concerns, many early career professionals may be finding difficulties in maintaining their career trajectory, experiencing a loss of connection, involvement, or mentorship.

While learning to live in our “new normal”, how do we maintain connection with early career professionals as well as aspiring radiologists?

Now more than ever we need to foster the development and engagement of aspiring or early career radiology professionals. The ACR Young and Early Career Professional Section (YPS) Executive Committee supports this initiative, and is striving to engage in novel and innovative ways. Click Here

The ACR YPS has developed a Webinar Series focusing on timely topics affecting young radiologists such as “Job Hunting During an Economic Crisis”, and “Practice Leadership During COVID-19,” focusing on young radiologists navigating leadership roles during times of crisis. Click Here

The ACR YPS also supports The Hounsfield Unit podcast (@HounsfieldPod on Twitter). This features meaningful, relevant and honest discussions about topics affecting young radiologists in this country, such as health inequities, wellness, venture capital groups and radiology.

While maintaining support for early career professionals we need to be mindful of the mentorship needs of our trainees. The ACR Resident and Fellow Section (RFS) is dedicated to engaging trainees in leadership, advocacy, quality, economics and education. Encourage all trainees to get involved in the RFS by running for executive committee or serving on an ACR RFS Subcommittee. Click Here

The FRS has a strong history of supporting resident engagement. The FRS Resident Traveling Fellowship to the ACR Annual Meeting & Chapter Leadership Conference funds one resident from each program in Florida to attend the ACR meeting each year. Another resident opportunity offered by the FRS is the Legislative and Governmental Relation’s Fellowship Program. This one-week paid fellowship allows residents to gain exposure to the FRS’ government relations activities and the state regulatory process. Click Here

With passage of Resolution no. 35, allowing RFS and YPS members to take a more active part of the ACR governance process, the ACR acknowledges the importance of the voice of future generations of leaders. We must ensure that aspiring and early career radiology professionals are supported with encouragement, engagement and mentorship to shape the future of the field. As we all learn to work and teach remotely, we need to be vigilant in our efforts to remain engaged and committed to our early career colleagues.

“If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” — Isaac Newton

Laura Vallow, M.D.
Secretary, FRS
Vallow.Laura@mayo.edu

Meet Your 2020 – 2021 FRS Executive Committee

President
Douglas Hornsby, MD

President-Elect
Rajendra Kedar, MD, FACR

Treasurer
Chintan Desai, MD

Secretary
Laura Vallow, MD

FRS President’s Message

LIVING IN A COCOON

As we shelter in place and struggle to accommodate the changes brought on by the pandemic, I am almost shocked when previously recorded shows I see every one shaking hands, giving hugs at greeting and obligatory kisses on the cheek.

Previously, face masks were only seen in the images of the Far East worn for protection from air pollution. They were an indictment of totalitarian regimes which have no care for the individual. What happened? Has it only been a few months? It seems like an eternity. Now, to steal a phrase: “I don’t leave home without it.” In fact, I rarely leave home to protect myself and family. I take reasonable precautions by wearing a mask and sheltering in place. Our concern is for the safety of our immediate environment and our medical practice. Many of us work continuously but in increased isolation.

However; the interest of our patients, community and importantly the FRS cannot be neglected. The election season is upon us. The dynamics have changed, but the need to support candidates who recognize the importance promoting and defending the interests of our profession have not gone away.

Zoom virtual meetings are the “new normal” for this election cycle. Please embrace this technology. Your voice and your face should be there to make sure the interests of radiologists in Florida are represented in the State House and in Congress. Fundraisers and other political gatherings are not possible. If we become invisible and are not present at these virtual meetings, our interests will be overlooked. The expression “the squeaky wheel” springs to mind. Our virtual presence and contributions are the grease for the wheel.

Please contact Allison Dudley for direction and be present at virtual cocktail parties and townhall meetings etc. to give a face and a voice to our concern. Your financial support for favorable candidates is needed more than ever in this changing political climate.

I just wish I had bought Zoom in March.

Doug Hornsby, MD
President, FRS
doughornsby@msn.com

Past President
Patricia Mergo, MD, FACR

Legal Counsel
Michael M. Raskin, M.D., J.D., FACR

FRBMA President’s Message

RBMA PaRADigm Shift annual meeting was held August 3-6. It was fully virtual and I was excited to see if this would offer the educational, vendor interaction and networking benefits that the on-site meetings offer. My experience was positive and provided me more benefit than I expected.

What worked.

1. Rather than do the conference from my home, I actually participated from my office during the conference but I dedicated about 60% of my day to attending the conference sessions. This was actually similar to an on-site meeting. All of us that attend on-site seminars are dealing with our work-related issues during breaks or before and after the conference each day. I always feel stressed because it’s difficult to juggle the competing demands. This virtual program was less stressful. I used the lunch breaks to stay caught up at work and I never felt like I was falling behind. Personally, I’m not a good work from home person so being in the office helped me stay connected to what was going on in the office.

2. The content was equal to an on-site conference. The speakers were engaging and they did a great job of involving the attendees. Speakers also took questions both during and after their presentation. From a learning experience perspective, it was very effective.

3. To get the same educational content without the time-wasting travel was a big plus.

What didn’t.

1. I love walking around the exhibit hall. You can focus on things you are already considering for your practice or just explore for new ideas. It is just such an efficient way to gather information. The virtual really didn’t work for me. Not that it couldn’t but it really needs some creative rethinking.

2. Networking was ok, particularly for networking and catching up with people you already know. I think, at least with the level of effort I invested, it’s difficult to expand you’re network in a virtual environment. I think the networking aspect could be improved with some sort of match making that networks people with similar interests. Maybe a questionnaire for all attendees prior to the conference that help the attendees get connected. Attendees could be matched by region, type of practice, particular issues you’re interested in and so forth. With some sort of redesign, the networking aspect could be a plus vs a minus.

My two immediate action items:

1. Creating a concierge service for the radiologists. Essentially this functions the way an Executive Secretary functions for a CEO. However, in a concierge service it’s not a direct relationship but instead accomplished through concierge department staffed with a ratio of 1 staff per 6 radiologists. The benefits can be significant to your practice. If radiologists are more focused on what they do best then turnaround times will improve, radiologists are more productive and by eliminating the tasks that frustrate the radiologist then the service will improve job satisfaction. I can also see this as being a recruiting tool. (Free up 39 minutes Per Day per Radiologist by Implementing a Radiology Concierge Service. Reed Murphy, VP of Technology. Canopy Partners.)

2. Develop a marketing approach to reach patients in your waiting room. We have always avoided waiting room marketing, feeling it can appear tacky. But I really liked the ideas discussed and set up the right way can be both be educational to patients and also improve your business. Apparently, a video application is the method patients like best and print material is one of the least liked methods. The ideas in women’s imaging and particularly mammography annual screening is something we will look at first. (The Untapped Power of the Waiting Room. Jim Kohler, President. Amanda Medical Marketing)

In conclusion PaRADigm was well worth the investment of time and money. In my view the RBMA did a great job in running this program. There were many learning opportunities besides my immediate action items. My group has been receptive to the ideas that came out of this meeting and I expect that we will be implementing some of these ideas and our practice will improve. If RBMA can improve the networking aspect and provide a more robust vendor interaction then my preference would be to attend in virtual format in the future.

John Detelich, CPA, MBA, CEO
President, FRBMA
jdetelich@radassociates.com

Legislative Update

As we enter September, the primaries are behind us and everyone is gearing up for the General election on Tuesday, November 3rd. COVID unfortunately is still disrupting lives and work and making it quite challenging for politicians to campaign. To date, no legislation has been filed.

I will be moving about the state trying to help our friends with their campaigns as best I can while being socially distant and masked.

Please reach out to me via email – alisondudley@dudleyandassociates.com if you have questions on your local races.

Stay well and safe!

Thanks,
Alison Dudley, FRS Lobbyist
AlisonDudley@dudleyandassociates.com

SUBMIT AN ARTICLE

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Job Posting Opportunities

Florida Radiological Society is pleased to introduce the opportunity for interested parties to advertise for potential jobs in our monthly FRS Ebrief bulletin.

Advertisement pricing is as follows:

Ebrief Job Posting pricing:
3 months ($100 monthly)
6 months ($90 monthly)
12 months ($80 monthly)

Please contact Lorraine Roger, our Society Administrator for further information on how to advertise in our monthly publication.

ph (813) 806-1070
fx (813) 806-1071
email lroger@flrad.org

We feel that this will provide a valuable service to both our members and our Florida community of Radiology.

Thank you for your interest!
Patricia Mergo, MD

Become a PAC Member Today

Attention FRBMA Members! Please support the cause. We encourage you to be PAC members and supporters; you do not have to belong to the FRS. Donations can be made online through our PAC website www.FLRADPAC.org. Thank you for your donation: Dr. DePrima

It is critical that we support both our Florida PAC and RADPAC in order to bolster our voice in Tallahassee and Washington, respectively. Please join FRS lobbyist Alison Dudley in her special appeal for all Florida radiologists to become Florida PAC members. If you would like to help FRS defend radiology against untoward legislation and introduce bills that have a positive impact on our practices, we need your financial support to re-elect our friends in the state House and Senate. The FRS can also show you simplified ways on how to sign up your radiology group. Contact Lorraine Roger at lroger@flrad.org or contact Alison Dudley at alisondudley@dudleyandassociates.com for more information.

Telephone (813) 806-1070 • Fax (813) 806-1071
5620 W. Sligh Avenue • Tampa, Florida 33634

The E-Brief is an exclusive member benefit of Florida Radiological Society, delivering monthly member, chapter and industry news. Please do not reply to this automatic e-mail. For comments or questions about the E-Brief, please contact lroger@flrad.org.

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