Enabling Your Radiology Business to Thrive Strategic Lessons Learned During the Initial and Subsequent Surges of the Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The Covid-19 pandemic surges of 2020 resulted in major operational, personal, and financial impacts on US radiology practices. In response, a series of strategic and intentional operational changes were implemented, varying by practice size, structure and model. In reviewing the many business lessons that we learned during the pandemic, it became clear that for a business to be successful, a host of additional supportive factors are necessary. In addition to timely expense reductions, optimizing revenue capture and close monitoring and management of cash and reserves available for use, we also consider effective leadership and communication strategies, maintenance of a healthy and adequately staffed team, support for a remote work environment and flexible staffing models. Other ingredients include effectively embracing digital media for communications, careful attention to current and new stakeholders and the service delivered to them, understanding federal and state regulatory changes issued in response to the pandemic, close collaboration with the Human Resources office, and an early focus on redesigning your future practice structure and function, including disaster and downtime planning. This review aims to share lessons to enable leaders of an imaging enterprise to be better prepared for similar and future surges.

Update on establishing and managing an overnight emergency radiology division

“…The broad effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on radiology have been discussed elsewhere in the radiology literature [28][29][30]. In regards to emergency radiologists' reading areas, various infection control methods may be employed, including separating teams of emergency radiologists to work in different reading rooms or from home, social distancing and mask wearing when sharing a reading room, and performing consultations with clinicians using the phone or videoconferencing platforms such as Zoom (Zoom Video Communications, San Jose, CA) or Teams (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA) [31].…”

Lessons learned from radiology mentors

“…Meta-leadership is a holistic framework, inclusive of emotional intelligence, situational awareness, and multidimensional connections. Dr Kruskal and other radiology chairs provided lessons learned in the article, “Enabling Your Radiology Business to Thrive: Strategic Lessons Learned During the Initial and Subsequent Surges of Covid-19 Pandemic” [ 7 ]. Kruskal and colleagues agreed that those who successfully contemplated the “new imaging world” were best prepared for supporting and sustaining predominantly virtual communities while protecting the safety of staff and patients [ 7 ].…”

“…Dr Kruskal and other radiology chairs provided lessons learned in the article, “Enabling Your Radiology Business to Thrive: Strategic Lessons Learned During the Initial and Subsequent Surges of Covid-19 Pandemic” [ 7 ]. Kruskal and colleagues agreed that those who successfully contemplated the “new imaging world” were best prepared for supporting and sustaining predominantly virtual communities while protecting the safety of staff and patients [ 7 ]. If not already enabled to work remotely from home, most radiology practices purchased home picture archiving and communications system workstations.…”