RADIOLOGY RESEARCH PAPER

Radiology Research Paper

Nithish Kurian

College of Dupage
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Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to further explore the field of radiology, and to also see whether this

field was meant for me. The articles that are included explain what it is like being a radiologist

on an everyday basis. They describe what radiologists deal with on the job, the challenges one

faces, and what it takes to become one. A test was done dealing with stress that radiologists deal

with, and how much that affected their working habits. Also mentions how modern technology

will impact how radiology will be done in the next few years; making it quicker and effective. At

the end of the day, the point of this paper is to help me decide if this career path is the right one

for me.
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When a car accident occurs and someone unfortunately gets hurt, he or she is taken to the

hospital to get taken care of. Majority of the time, hospitals and the medical team there will take

an x-ray on the victim to make sure there arent any severe damages on their body. On that

medical team, the radiologist is the one that is accountable for a quick diagnosis on the patient

using proper imaging technology. The radiologist is also responsible for communicating with the

other team members, working together to evaluate a suitable treatment for the patient. According

to Schueller (2010), The probability of survival is predominantly determined by the injury

mechanism. However, the preclinical and clinical trauma management within the first hour after

an injury are of particular relevance. The infrastructural and medical improvements during the

last 30 years have helped to decrease the death rate caused by motor vehicle accidents by 50%,

despite the growing numbers of accidents (page 249). Schuller explains that due to the

evolvement of technology and medicine, more people are saved from these incidents, and

radiology is a huge part in that. The ability to view issues within the body in such a quick

manner, is what allows radiologists to help save people on an everyday basis.

Radiologists do help save people, but it is not as easy as it sounds. They deal with many

challenges every time they are on the clock. A test was done in New Zealand, where radiologists

were observed regarding their work stress, job satisfaction, level of burnout, and psychiatric

morbidity. It also evaluated the differences between working in a public hospital versus a private

healthcare practice. According to Lim & Pintos (2009) study:

The aspects of radiologists work that contributed to their work stress included having

conflicting demands on their time and having too great an overall volume of work. There are
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significant differences in the extent to which these stressors were experienced, based on

radiologists work environments. Radiologists in public hospital-based practice reported

significantly higher levels of work stress, lower levels of job satisfaction and higher rates of

burnout. There is a trend towards a higher rate of psychiatric morbidity among radiologists who

practice in public hospitals. Radiologists in the public hospital environment experience more

work stress, a lower level of job satisfaction and higher rates of burnout compared to private

practice. The present study highlights the various aspects of work stress important to radiologists,

so that they can be addressed to improve their mental health. Additionally, the results of this

study may have implications for workforce planning, recruitment and retention of radiologists in

the public health system (page 1). The expectations and demands of being a radiologist is at a

high standard, whether it being a student radiographer or a professional one. One must be

confident, knowledgeable, and can learn and work under pressure to be an effective radiologist.

The future of radiology seems to be going in a more positive direction, due to the

increase of technology that is being produced. For example, in years to come, radiation will not

be an issue for radiologists. Thralls (2015) analysis stated the following:

Improvements in X-ray based imaging in the next decade will result in reductions of radiation

doses to the point where the issue will no longer be of discussion or concern. Current

calculations projecting excess cancers and cancer deaths from CT seriously inflate the risks,

because they are derived from 10-year-old data that dont consider new reconstruction methods

and scanning systems developed in the last decade that have reduced radiation doses

substantially. Phase contrast X-ray imaging is likely to be the next new imaging method to be

explored clinically. Compared to attenuation based X-ray imaging, phase contrast has the

theoretical potential to reduce doses by 10- to 100-fold or more due to the inherently high
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contrast it affords (page 1). James Thralls study shows that at some point in the future, the factor

of radiation will not be an issue to deal with in the workplace. Thus, will lead to more healthier

work environments for both the patient and the radiologist.

Another indication that the future of radiology is heading in the right direction, is the

actual production of modern technology that allows the process to be more effective.

According to Schueller (2010), he states the following:

It is not only the rapid accessibility of an imaging modality, but also the accuracy that renders the

method a valuable tool in the diagnostic algorithm. In this regard, a quick, stable, highly specific

and sensitive method has a high impact on the improvement of patient outcomes. In the last 10

years, the role of the radiologist has substantially changed, particularly in trauma centers, with

the implementation of multidetector CT (MDCT) as a permanent part of the emergency

department. The radiologist's responsibility for the success of a trauma team has substantially

risen with the advent of CT. The latest step in this technical development was the implementation

of MDCT as a permanent part of the structure of the emergency department. MDCT has proven

to be a valuable, rapidly accessible imaging tool. Therefore, more than ever before, the

radiologist has a duty as well as the opportunity to rapidly detect and to communicate life-

threatening injuries to the trauma team. With this approach, radiologic images can contribute to

an improved outcome for injured patients (page 249). Schueller illustrates how the development

of CT creates a better impact for the patients outcomes. Therefore, it portrays how it radiology

can bring better imaging for patients and treat them in a faster manner.

In conclusion, the field of radiology is evolving with modern technology. With the

development of x-rays, CT, and better effectiveness, radiology seems to be a growing field of
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interest. Every single aspect of the field is changing, and there is so many different challenges

and obstacles one would have to deal with in a working environment. People join the medical

field because they want to help people. After writing the paper, I want to be a radiologist because

I want to help people, and I believe the field of radiology will grow tremendously in the years to

come. I want to learn about the modern technology that will be available. Being able to take x-

rays and deal with the science part of it. This is what interests me, and that is why I want to

become a radiologist.
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References

Lim, R. H., & Pinto, C. (2009). Work stress, satisfaction and burnout in New Zealand

radiologists: Comparison of public hospital and private practice in New Zealand. Journal Of

Medical Imaging & Radiation Oncology, 53(2), 194-199. doi:10.1111/j.1754-9485.2009.02063.x

Schueller, G. (2010, June). The role of the radiologist: when images save lives. Imaging in

Medicine, 2(3), 249+

Thrall, J. (2016). Look Ahead: The Future of Medical Imaging. Retrieved February 14, 2017,

from http://www.rsna.org/News.aspx?id=17019