Eric Postal, MD

Are you on the right path to financial independence and retiring early?

Do you embrace challenges and change or settle and wallow in your diagnostic comfort zone?

While there are pros and cons to consider, offering a direct pay service for second opinions on imaging may emerge as a viable, middleman-free alternative for radiologists.

A go-getter spirit, positive energy and willingness to help and learn are keys to collegial respect and propelling your career in the field.

Easily digestible formats, bullet points and summaries aside, say what you need to say in radiology reports.

Preventative tactics, measured responses and knowing when to defend yourself may all come into play when dealing with a colleague known for underhanded and deceptive behavior.

While there are a variety of factors to consider with any job switch, there is a fair amount of leverage in one’s favor given the hot job market in radiology.

Whether there are technical or logistical issues one is trying to resolve, timely problem solving requires a mix of assertiveness, perspective and collegial respect.

Positioning oneself to provide a seasoned alternative to the shortcomings of AI may help future proof more of a long game in the radiology field.

While worklist demands and a reluctance to bruise the egos of colleagues may conspire against it, obtaining prior imaging often yields a treasure trove of information.

Amid rapidly rising imaging volume and worklist juggling, time is the most precious commodity when navigating requests from referrers for more information.

A willingness to embrace self-reflection and due consideration of radiology and broader health care news, trends and perspectives — no matter how uncomfortable they make you — may help prevent you from being locked into a radiology bubble.

Is it more advantageous to acknowledge your weaknesses in radiology?

Outside of a legitimate concern over lingering symptoms, this author suggests that self-imaging may be more of an indulgent exercise to ease the inner hypochondriac of physicians.

Whether it’s assuming an annual pay increase or assuming that AI won’t affect one’s job, the old adage that the only guarantee in life is change remains the more reliable truth.

While tempting albeit questionable opportunities may arise periodically that may help offset reimbursement cuts, honesty remains the higher form of currency.

If you knew the daily level of challenges a radiology supervisor or manager encounters, would you still aspire to the role?

Are non-physicians playing around with your radiology reporting macros?

Whether it’s a home gym, a healthy diet or a prudent approach to savings and eventual retirement, there are key ‘assets’ that can help sustain a strong quality of life.

While some job offers may sound very tempting, savvy radiologists ask prospective employers to show more than the money in order to assess a potential jump for a new gig.

Is the current OLA process a viable alternative for assessing our skills?

How active are you in steering your career course in radiology?

What behaviors and aptitudes for learning may be conducive to a future career in radiology?

Savvy negotiating for a new radiology gig requires a deft blend of flexibility and problem solving, and a willingness to walk away if you’re not seeing the same attributes on the other side of the table.

While negativity may seem pervasive at times in health care, staying centered and above the fray keeps us focused on our mission of patient care.

Don’t overreact, keep your options open and develop off-ramps so you’re prepared regardless of the changes to come with AI.

In lieu of compensation bumps and increased PTO, awareness of a points-based system for job performance may provide an alternate motivational spark.

Asking those with at least five years of post-residency experience to share their ideas for reforming health care may lead to some common themes that could emerge as the basis of a health care constitution for change.

Exploring ways to bolster efficiency in an ongoing manner can help mitigate the strain of burgeoning worklists and improve morale.

There are no modifications to the order when it comes to CMS and insurance company criteria for reimbursement.