Radiology PGYIII

Description of Rotation or Educational Experience

The Radiology experience is a two-week rotation during the PGYIII year. This rotational experience encompasses education in both the inpatient and radiology office setting with board certified radiologists. Radiology is also a longitudinal discipline with residents learning in the FMC and hospitals.  Elective rotations in special imaging are available at WRMC, NMC and at The Breast Center of Northwest Arkansas.

Patient Care

Goal

Residents must be able to provide patient care that is compassionate, appropriate, and effective for the treatment of health problems and the promotion of health.  Residents are expected to:

Competencies

• Be able to order the correct imaging study to ensure accurate diagnoses.
• Be able to counsel patients on the risks and benefits of procedures
• Be able to recognize abnormal radiological signs on x-rays, ultrasounds and CT scans.

Objectives

• Become familiar with the various modalities of patient imaging and be able to appropriately apply this in the diagnostic evaluation of their patients.
• Improve their proficiency in the interpretation of radiology studies that are utilized in the outpatient setting in Family Medicine.
• Be able to recognize, diagnose, manage, and refer for consultation the radiology problems that may present in daily practice.
• Become familiar with the indications for special diagnostic radiological procedures including advances in interventional radiology that their patients may benefit from.
• Be able to correlate radiographic findings with their patient’s presenting history, exam, and laboratory findings to ensure consistency in the diagnostic workup.

Medical Knowledge

Goal

Residents must demonstrate knowledge of established and evolving biomedical, clinical, epidemiological, and social-behavioral sciences, as well as the application of this knowledge to patient care.  Residents are expected to:

Competencies

Indications for:

• Physiologic Principles of Radiology
• Principles of X-ray interpretation
• Plain Radiography
• Computed Tomography
• Ultrasonography
• Nuclear Medicine studies
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Fluoroscopy
• Interventional Radiology
• Mammogram
• Arteriogram
• Doppler studies
• Venography

Objectives

• Possess the knowledge and skills necessary to order the appropriate imaging study.
• Be able to consult with radiologists on problem cases.
• Be familiar with the physiologic principles of radiological imaging.
• Be able to assess whether a plain radiograph (particularly chest x-ray) is adequate for interpretation.

Practice- Based Learning and Improvement

Goal

Residents must demonstrate the ability to investigate and evaluate their care of patients, to appraise and assimilate scientific evidence, and to continuously improve patient care based on constant self-evaluation and life long learning.  Residents are expected to develop skills and habits to be able to:

Competencies

• Identify strengths, deficiencies and limits in one’s knowledge and expertise;

Objectives

• The resident will learn their limitations in ordering and interpreting certain imaging studies.

Systems Based Practice

Goal

Residents must demonstrate an awareness of and responsiveness to the larger context and system of health care, as well as the ability to call effectively on other resources in the system to provide optimal health care.  Residents are expected to:

Competencies

• Incorporate considerations of cost awareness and risk-benefit analysis in patient care

Objectives

• The resident will become familiar with the relative cost and potential adverse health risks of certain diagnostic procedures and be able to order a cost-effective and safe diagnostic evaluation for their patients.

Professionalism

Goal

Residents must demonstrate a commitment to carrying out professional responsibilities and an adherence to ethical principles.  Residents are expected to demonstrate:

Competencies

• Compassion, integrity, and respect for others.

Objectives

• The resident will be mentored by the faculty to teach the understanding of compassion, integrity, and respect in care of the adult with acute and chronic problems.

Interpersonal and Communication Skills

Goal

Residents must demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills that result in the effective exchange of information and teaming with patients, their families, and professional associates.  Residents are expected to:

Competencies

• Communicate effectively with physicians, other health professionals, and health related agencies

Objectives

• The resident will learn to effectively communicate the pertinent elements of their patient’s history, exam, and laboratory and other radiological studies with the radiologist in order to assist the radiologist in his/her ability to correctly interpret diagnostic studies.
• The resident will learn to instruct the patient on the indications, need for, and risks and benefits of a particular imaging procedure.

Teaching Methods

Reviewing and interpreting diagnostic imaging studies with the radiologists and the Family Medicine faculty, “Essentials of Radiology” CD Rom, didactic lecture, case-based discussions, Chest Conference at WRMC by pulmonologists.

Assessment Method

At the conclusion of each resident rotation, the residency coordinator sends a formative-type, rotation-specific performance evaluation form to the rotations’ supervising physician.  When the completed evaluation is returned, the resident physician and the resident’s faculty advisor review the evaluation and attest to reviewing it by signing/initialing the form.  Next, the program director reviews and attests to the document.  Once all three have reviewed and attested the evaluation, it is included in the resident’s permanent file. 

Each resident is asked to evaluate the rotation and supervising physician(s) at the end of the rotation.  The resident’s faculty advisor and program director review the evaluation and attest to reviewing it by signing/initialing the form. These evaluations are filed together by resident year.

Educational Resources

Resources available at the AHEC Library:

Novelline RA. Squires’ fundamentals of radiology. 5^th ed., Boston, Harvard University Press, 1997.

Juhl JH, et. Al. Paul & Juhl’s Essentials of radiologic imaging. 7^th ed., Philadelphia, Lippincott and Raven, 1998.

Resource distributed at time of rotation:

“Essentials of Radiology” CD Rom by Judith Amorosa, M.D.

On Line Resources:

DynaMed and UpToDate