Communication and Team Interactions to Improve Patient Experiences, Quality of Care, and Throughput in MRI

This article discusses several patient-centered aspects of radiology practice that emphasize interpersonal interactions. Patient education and prescan communication represent 1 way to increase patients’ awareness of what to expect during MRI and therefore mitigate anticipatory anxiety. Some patient interaction strategies to promote relaxation or calming effects are also discussed. Staff teamwork and staff training in communication and interpersonal skills are also described, along with literature evidence of effectiveness with respect to patient satisfaction and productivity endpoints. Attention to how radiologists, nurses, technologists, and other members of the radiology team interact with patients before or during the MRI scan could improve patients’ motivation and ability to cooperate with the MRI scanning process as well as their subjective perceptions of the quality of their care. The topics discussed in this article are relevant not only to MRI operations but also to other clinical settings in which patient anxiety or motion represent impediments to optimal workflow.

Source: Topics in Magnetic Resonance Imaging - June 1, 2020 Category: Radiology Tags: Review Articles Source Type: research