Radiologists can become instrumental in reducing imaging-related healthcare disparities by adopting an “educational curriculum framework for practicing radiologists based on three key factors: individual efforts, calling for institutional change, and national collaboration,” according to an article published in Clinical Imaging.

In their abstract, authors Patel and Parikh provide the following highlights:

• “There are disparities between ethnic groups in access to radiology services, including screening, diagnostic, and image-guided interventions.
• Addressing disparities in radiology can be done by a three-prong approach through individual, institutional, and national change.
• At the individual level, educating radiologists, understanding individual contribution to disparities, developing radiology-specific cultural competency training, and increasing awareness of political action committees is needed.
• At the institutional level, embracing the concept of systemic change through reevaluation of goals and incentives and creating new mandated requirements addressing disparities with outcomes measures would be an initial start.
• At the national level, leveraging radiology organizations to co-sponsor an annual national meeting on radiological disparities based on diversity would enable an open forum of discussion among a diverse group of radiologists.”

“‘To live in the radiology “bubble” and claim that radiologists are not included in the perpetuation of health care disparities given the lack of patient interaction in most radiologic subspecialties is an argument of ignorance,’ Patel and Parikh wrote. ‘Many of the specific issues involving healthcare disparities specifically include eligibility, access, and adherence to radiologic screening examinations,'” according to AuntMinnie.

Sources:

Miral M. Patel, M.D. Jay R. Parikh, M.D., FSBI, FACR. Education of Radiologists in Healthcare Disparities. Clinical Imaging. Published online October 13, 2021, at https://www.clinicalimaging.org/article/S0899-7071(21)00402-2/fulltext. Accessed October 30, 2021.

Radiologists can spur change in addressing healthcare disparities. AuntMinnie.com October 15, 2021, at https://www.auntminnie.com/index.aspx?sec=sup&sub=imc&pag=dis&ItemID=133776. Accessed October 30, 2021.