By Jeremy Simon and Jerry Carlson

The tumult of 2020 forced radiology departments into constant adaptation to changing demands for their services, both in terms of volume and exam types. The beginning of a new year is an ideal time to assess how the global pandemic has changed radiology operations, and to take steps to improve operations moving forward. Three areas to consider are the cost-effectiveness of your equipment, supply reliability, and patient comfort and safety.

Cost-effectiveness of equipment
While the world eagerly awaits a return to normal, the pandemic is still with us. In the short-term, this means radiology departments are dealing with fewer exploratory studies and more patients with acute illness, because Covid-19 has caused patients to delay elective procedures.

Addressing this change means focusing on applications which do not necessarily require the latest innovations, and which are often well-served by imaging systems and components in the value and performance segments of the market. When you assess your organization's equipment needs, you may find that you are best served by cost-effective, workhorse systems to address the pre-surgery imaging and assessments of acute illnesses that are likely to fill your schedule in the short term. In addition to cost-effective imaging systems, components and software that support uptime and long use will help you meet both operational and budgetary goals.

Supply reliability
In the early days of the pandemic, supply chains broke down around the world, and components that once could be shipped overnight were delayed. While global pandemics are not common, there are other causes of supply chain disruption, and preparing for this inevitability will safeguard against downtime.

First, understand your choices when it comes to component supplies. Ask your suppliers about their plans to mitigate disruption.

Second, meet with your biomedical engineering department to create a list of components to have on-hand. Discuss which components are prone to break down or wear out, and how that affects operations. Then order spare parts to have ready when they're needed.


As important as having components available is, knowing who can install them quickly and accurately to get your system running again can be equally important. Assess which maintenance and installation tasks can be handled in-house, and which need outside service support. Talk to your suppliers about any training they offer to keep in-house personnel up to speed. Take advantage of webinars, often at no cost, to gain knowledge of techniques, expected issues, and time-saving tips to keep your equipment running well and ready to go.

Patient comfort and safety
The fastest imaging equipment in the world cannot compensate for the scheduling slow-down that can be caused by patients in need of reassurance. Every technologist likely has a story about how an anxious or distressed patient wreaked havoc on a previously orderly schedule. Clear and easily understood communication with patients before, during and after procedures can ease anxiety and enhance workflow.

Anxiety about hospitals may be magnified in the wake of the pandemic, so make sure you have a plan to communicate to patients what you are doing to mitigate infection risk. In addition, develop a system to tell patients what to expect during an exam, whether it be through written or oral communication. In fact, multiple forms of communication work best as reassuring messages communicated frequently and from different perspectives are most likely to be effective. These communications can also uncover information that can help technologists prepare for individual needs. For example, informing patients about breathholds in advance of an exam may uncover health conditions or anxiety that might make breath holding difficult.

When planning a study, take patient comfort into account. Will this patient do well in the equipment I have chosen? What can be done during the study to increase patient comfort and ease anxieties? Can this patient tolerate the length of the study I have chosen or do I need to make adjustments? Even when a system supports patient comfort, patients are happiest when the exam is over. So invest in equipment and components that are ready-to-go as soon as they are needed. CT tubes with liquid metal bearings are always ready to start an exam and don't need time to cool down between exams. Such advantages can make a significant difference in departmental workflow and patient satisfaction

While the new year will bring new challenges, inefficient operations do not need to be among them. The pandemic has negatively affected so many things, yet it has also presented us opportunities to improve. Act now to assess practices and set goals, and you'll improve radiology operations in 2021.


About the authors: Jeremy Simon currently leads Dunlee's OEM commercial activities in North America. Jeremy is a senior technology executive with global management experience over a 25-year career with a focus on X-ray imaging systems and component technology within Medical and Industrial markets.

Jerry Carlson has 30 years of experience with X-ray tubes and medical imaging systems, he has held leadership positions in technology development, R&D management, and customer support. The developments of his teams are used in numerous CT, interventional, and X-ray systems with thousands of installations worldwide. Jerry is currently product support manager for Dunlee.