What the Marine Corps Can Teach Radiologists About Workplace Stress

Radiologists who suffer from burnout, feel overworked, or struggle with heightened levels of responsibility should turn to stress management tactics practiced by the U.S. Marine Corps. According to a recentstudy published in theJournal of the American College of Radiology, the U.S. Marine Corps has a comprehensive stress-identifying protocol that can used to prevent disastrous repercussions to unmitigated stress, such as posttraumatic stress disorder, rage, nightmares, and insomnia. The authors from Indiana University ’s Department of Radiology explain that the U.S. Marine Corps’ response to stress can be applied to signs and symptoms of physician burnout. Taking a cue from the U.S. Marine Corps, the researchers write that administrators must establish a work culture where work-related stress is detected, ass essed, and treated. In order to successfully cultivate this kind of environment, radiology residents and fellows must be taught how to strategically and realistically manage stress and responsibilities. According to the authors, some of these methods include, “escalating expectations for case comp lexity and volumes, increasing clinical independence in on-call duties, and graded responsibility for discussing and responding to errors.” The authors highlight the U.S. Marine Corps leadership approach as one that encourages productivity yet is also responsive to signs of stress. The U.S. Marine Corps use a color-coded stress model that helps leaders pinpoint someone...

Source: radRounds - January 19, 2018 Category: Radiology Authors: Julie Morse Source Type: blogs