Stupid Questions for Radiology.

[KLPM]

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Please tell me this doesn't actually happen.

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3G7Zj8uED8&NR=1&feature=endscreen[/YOUTUBE]

 

[cowme]

Some of this definitely happens. I've been asked to clarify what a "benign bone island" is, and what the clinical team is supposed to do with it.

 

[scootad.]

I've been asked what vacuum disc phenomenon is and "what do I do about it"

 

[shark2000]

Every service industry has a client and a provider. The provider should keep the client happy.

Im medicine the client is the patient. In radiology the client is other physician. And that is perfect. I'd rather interact with10 PAs, NPs and family doctors than one patient.

Anyway, if you believe that you are a consultant, there is no such thing as stupid question or simple question. How many times have you seen an endocrinologist tell the IM doctor to google your question?

If people knew the answer to these even simple questions, they did not need us. By not actively participating in these types of interaction, you will degrade your role to a technician level. And guess what happens next time? Next time the family doctor will call the orthopod for that and over time, you will lose your value in the health care system.

When I was a resident or fellow, there was round the clock coverage of the hospital by subspecialty residents and fellows. I never felt the importance of knowing the management, treatment or the clinical course of a disease. Now in pp, most of my referrals are from non specialists. Since finding a radiologist is easier, I get a lot of calls asking questions about next step. This is an area that radiologists should work on it more, if we want to keep our position in health care.

 

[scootad.]

I agree with the above to a certain extent. However there are times when we get asked silly questions that are either lazy or something they as medical providers should know. I work as a PP radiologist and had an MD's office ask us to perform an x ray of "the long bone" on one of their patients. We had to call them back to confirm that what they wanted was a femur x ray. Sorry but this is just silly.

 

[shark2000]

I agree with the above to a certain extent. However there are times when we get asked silly questions that are either lazy or something they as medical providers should know. I work as a PP radiologist and had an MD's office ask us to perform an x ray of "the long bone" on one of their patients. We had to call them back to confirm that what they wanted was a femur x ray. Sorry but this is just silly.

I don't say it is right for them to do it, but

Every job has its own scut work. If you are a clinician, you have to deal with patients and their questions. As a radiologist, you have less hassle in many ways, so take it as a scut work or perk.

Many patients go to a certain doctor not becuase he is a good one, but because he answers their questions. The same for radiology. Many clinicians will sned their patients to you because you take care of these perks.

Many family docotrs love to get called for every finding that needs even non emergent actions. Because they are busy themselves and don't have time to follow every test they order. I agree that it can be a pain to stay on line for 10 minutes to find them, but let's just accpet it a scut work of your job, them same as a clinician who gets called by the patient for nothing