What's the basic Rads workflow like?

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punkedoutriffs

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Help out a premed?

Trying to get an idea of the workflow of Rads. In my mind right now, it goes like this:

1. Get a request from "____" service for imaging consult.
2. Get image (w/e it is: MRI, CT, etc.)
3. Look at it and identify the problem/suggest therapy.
4. Type up/audio record? the report.
5. Email/fax? over the report.
6. Rinse/repeat.

Is that basically it? Are you working alone or do you have other Radiologists working w/ you? Who do you interact with? Rads techs? Docs from other services?
 
In the Electronic medical record (EMR) age, most of these steps are done automatically.
A study is ordered by clinician, automatically radiology tech sees the request. In most cases there is a procedure protocol booklet that they use, but if there is any question they call the radiologist. Then the study is done. Images transfer real time from the scanner to the PACS that can be seen by radiologist and is dictated which is transferred back to EMR automatically.
 
In the Electronic medical record (EMR) age, most of these steps are done automatically.
A study is ordered by clinician, automatically radiology tech sees the request. In most cases there is a procedure protocol booklet that they use, but if there is any question they call the radiologist. Then the study is done. Images transfer real time from the scanner to the PACS that can be seen by radiologist and is dictated which is transferred back to EMR automatically.

If one wanted to explore the gory details of the EMR/RIS/PACS age... One could browse the following: http://www.ihe.net/Technical_Framework/upload/ihe_tf_whitepaper_DWF_TI-draft-2004-04-15.pdf (sorry, I could not resits the temptation to post this, much more details than the OP wanted to know). 🙂

If the OP finds this interesting, then he/she should browse www.ihe.net (fun stuff, if you find this sort of details "interesting").

Good luck!
 
All med or just some specialties?

No matter what field you choose, you will spend most of your time doing medicine. And it gets busier and busier as you go. If you don't like it, you are screwed. It is like a gamble. As a premed you never ever know whether you will like it or not. You will figure out whether you like or not, when you are MS4 or even half way into your residency. The point of no return. If you like it, you are lucky as the job security and income is good compared to most other fields. If you don't like it, you are truly F...ed, as there is no way to return and also you have to spend most of your time do what you hate.

Good Luck.
 
That's life I guess. If I knew a better alternative, I'd take it. Thanks anyway.
 
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