Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the radiology reading room with a potentially lasting impact. This disruption could introduce the risk of obviating the need for the reading room, which would be detrimental to many of the roles of radiology that occur in and around the reading room. This disruption could also create the opportunity for accelerated evolution of the reading room to meet the strategic needs of radiology and health care through thoughtful re-design of the virtual reading room. In this article, we overview the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on radiology in our institution and across the country, specifically on the dynamics of the radiology reading room. We introduce the concept of the virtual reading room, which is a redesigned alternative to the physical reading room that can serve the diverse needs of radiology and healthcare during and beyond the pandemic.
Highlights
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a major and rapid disruptor to life and work around the world
The unexpected sudden need for social distancing has disrupted the workflow of the traditional reading room
The duration of the interruption to the routine workflow in radiology reading rooms remains uncertain, but it is unlikely that after a prolonged disruption, it will ever return to its previous state
Summary
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a major and rapid disruptor to life and work around the world. The concept of social distancing, as a way of containing the spread of the disease, has altered many aspects of life, and in healthcare. The unexpected sudden need for social distancing has disrupted the workflow of the traditional reading room. The duration of the interruption to the routine workflow in radiology reading rooms remains uncertain, but it is unlikely that after a prolonged disruption, it will ever return to its previous state. The radiology field could be standing at a bifurcation in the road, choosing between abandoning the reading room or evolving it. Through the thoughtful application of informatics, the concept of the radiology reading room can evolve to meet the future needs of radiology and the healthcare system during and beyond the pandemic. We will discuss how social distancing can force an accelerated evolution of the concept of the reading room, into a new concept of the virtual reading room
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
