Prior to PACS, radiologists and clinicians often met daily and in person to discuss imaging studies. That dynamic has changed with the adoption of PACS, however.
Presenter Allison Tillack will share how the loss of this face-to-face interaction is making it more difficult for radiologists to maintain their role as experts in image interpretation. And clinicians were also less likely to trust the interpretations of radiologists they had not personally met or had only met a few times, she said.
The results highlight that the problem isn't just about less communication, it's about the kinds and ways of communication that occur in the PACS environment, Tillack told AuntMinnie.com. Furthermore, can radiologists establish and maintain trust and expertise using other communication methods such as e-mail, phone, text message, or online?
"In other words, since PACS is here to stay, how can radiologists not only become more 'visible' to their clinician colleagues, but also use alternate modes of communication in ways that enhance rather than distance radiologists as members of the patient care team?" Tillack said.
