In the face of uncertainty regarding the future of medicine, radiologists are seeking a new paradigm for their field, one that enables collaborative and patient-centered care. We are looking for ways to add value within the ever-morefragmented environment of health care. The pediatric radiologist provides a clear example of how to provide meaningful care in a way that enables our colleagues. Now more than ever, radiologists face pressure to maintain visibility within patient care. Yet at the same time, many radiologists are experiencing increasing administrative pressures that demand productivity and efficiency. In response, some have suggested that radiologists need more focus, and that outside distractions during image interpretation -phone calls, conversations, etc. -keep us from doing our best work [1]. Others have called for a rebranding effort, claiming that we need to refresh our image with our fellow physicians and with the lay public, highlighting accessibility and collaboration.Both reactions articulate something important and emphasize different levels of value that radiologists can bring. If radiology is to add value that emphasizes patient-centered and family-centered care, it won't be the result of working alone. We must strengthen the relationships that bridge the silos of hyper-specialized medicine.Many subspecialized areas within radiology are making progress implementing so-called Imaging 3.0 initiatives [2,3]. However, perhaps none is so uniquely positioned as the pediatric radiologist to highlight how the radiologist's value is far broader than the generation of a report. Our scope is comprehensive, yet specialized, caring for families as much as individuals [4].The example of the pediatric radiologist emphasizes the vital importance of the roles of consultant, collaborator and patient advocate. It is through these three roles that we see the particular value of strong relationships, with fellow health care providers and with our patients. The center of these relationships is the reading room.
ConsultantsThe pediatric radiology reading room often serves as a focal point for multidisciplinary care, drawing together physicians from the far corners of the hospital. These physicians come to the reading room not because of a nameless and faceless radiologist, but rather because of relationships built on confidence and trust.Relationships with unique individuals provide something different from what is contained in a report. They go far beyond a transfer of data, allowing for true collegiality. We refer to "colleagues" because we recognize more than a co-worker. Our connection is not an incidental by-product of working in the same physical space. Rather, we are united by a common purpose -sustaining the health and the life of a person -and the term "colleague" implicitly recognizes interdependence as key to our mission.Some might argue that the fast-paced model of modern health care can no longer sustain such time-consuming human interaction. Interruptions to workflow have been identified as an obs...