Virtually RLA
By Sam Marie Engle
COVID may have changed the way members of the Radiology Leadership Academy Class of 2021 accessed and participated in the program, but it didn’t change the amount of professional and personal development. Following university guidelines regarding group gatherings, the Class of 2021 met virtually for all program days, including graduation.
“We were wondering if we would be able to continue RLA during COVID, but the Executive Committee decided that the investment in future leaders of our department was more important than ever. I feel that setting up facilitators was just as easy as it’s been since I started coordinating RLA, as our program is so well-known in the Emory healthcare and University setting,” says Carol Dowdle, senior program coordinator.
Instead of eight monthly day-long sessions, class members met on Zoom for sixteen half-day sessions. A highlight of the year was a panel discussion on diversity. Emory Radiology Chair Dr. Carolyn Meltzer and Vice Chair for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Dr. Jamlik-Omari Johnson were joined by Emory’s Vice Provost for Diversity and Inclusion Dr. Carol Henderson, and Dr. Kimberly Manning, professor of medicine. Another was a session on change management led by Dane Peterson, president and chief operating officer of Emory Healthcare.
As with prior classes, RLA participants were organized into teams to complete a business of radiology project. On Graduation Day, the teams presented their projects virtually and enthusiastically to an equally enthusiastic Zoom audience.
Team Unmuted
Transforming the Patient and Family Experience Through Effective Communication in Interventional Radiology
Paul Cronin, Amy Fioramonte, Jackie Lawrence, Kathy Vaughn
Using a three-month audit period, the team reviewed Press Ganey and Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems scores, system data regarding delays and no-shows, and focus groups with clinical staff, radiologists, and patients to understand the issues affecting the interventional radiology service at Emory University Hospital.
Transforming the Patient and Family Experience Through Effective Communication in Interventional Radiology
Paul Cronin, Amy Fioramonte, Jackie Lawrence, Kathy Vaughn
Using a three-month audit period, the team reviewed Press Ganey and Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems scores, system data regarding delays and no-shows, and focus groups with clinical staff, radiologists, and patients to understand the issues affecting the interventional radiology service at Emory University Hospital.
KVP MVPS
What Is Happening? Understanding Turnaround Time for CT in the Emergency Department
Melissa Davis, Matthew B. Jones, Nima Kokabi, Malissa Smith
The team investigated the causes and effects of increased CT utilization in the emergency room with special focus on increasing CT Imaging process transparency for patients and referring physicians with the larger goal of improving the patient experience. The team examined processes at each operating unit and then applied lean management principles to identify opportunities for improvement and to set target metrics for improvement.
What Is Happening? Understanding Turnaround Time for CT in the Emergency Department
Melissa Davis, Matthew B. Jones, Nima Kokabi, Malissa Smith
The team investigated the causes and effects of increased CT utilization in the emergency room with special focus on increasing CT Imaging process transparency for patients and referring physicians with the larger goal of improving the patient experience. The team examined processes at each operating unit and then applied lean management principles to identify opportunities for improvement and to set target metrics for improvement.
Connect 3
An Epic Solution for Equity in Care
Letitia Marilla, Akshat Pujara, David Reiter
Citing vast research documenting disparities in US healthcare, the team targeted Emory University Hospital Midtown to test for disparities among emergency room patients pre-COVID and during COVID in the provision of imaging services. The team found Black patients presenting with the same chief complaints as White patients were less likely to receive orders for CT imaging and young Black men in particular received fewer orders for CT imaging. The team partnered with the Department of Emergency Medicine both for the project testing phase and formulation of recommendations.
An Epic Solution for Equity in Care
Letitia Marilla, Akshat Pujara, David Reiter
Citing vast research documenting disparities in US healthcare, the team targeted Emory University Hospital Midtown to test for disparities among emergency room patients pre-COVID and during COVID in the provision of imaging services. The team found Black patients presenting with the same chief complaints as White patients were less likely to receive orders for CT imaging and young Black men in particular received fewer orders for CT imaging. The team partnered with the Department of Emergency Medicine both for the project testing phase and formulation of recommendations.
All three projects elicited enthusiastic support from department leaders.
A photo montage showing each class member posing with their graduation plaque substituted for the traditional plaque pass and hand clasp.
Congratulations to the Class of 2021!
A photo montage showing each class member posing with their graduation plaque substituted for the traditional plaque pass and hand clasp.
Congratulations to the Class of 2021!
While the Class of 2021 basked in the glow of accomplishment, the Class of 2022 was announced.
Krystal Archer-Arroyo, Assistant Professor, Division of Emergency and Trauma Imaging
Charnaye Bosley, Manager, Breast Imaging Center and Imaging Workflow Specialists, Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital
April Carter, Business Analyst, EHI Shared Clinical Services
Lea Gilliland, Assistant Professor, Division of Breast Imaging
Kelda Kemp, Advanced Practice Provider, Division of Interventional Radiology
Geetika Khanna, Professor and Associate Director, Division of Pediatric Imaging
Bill Majdalany, Associate Professor and Interventional Radiology Residency Program Director
Frank Minja, Associate Professor, Division of Neuroradiology, and Co-chair, Emory Radiology Global Health Committee
Kendra Moore, Director of Business and Finance
Dani Njeri, Radiology Education Coordinator
Shelby Tilley, Business Operations Manager
Tracy Vaughn, Manager, Radiology Services, Breast Center
Enjoy your RLA experience and we look forward to your presentations next summer!
Krystal Archer-Arroyo, Assistant Professor, Division of Emergency and Trauma Imaging
Charnaye Bosley, Manager, Breast Imaging Center and Imaging Workflow Specialists, Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital
April Carter, Business Analyst, EHI Shared Clinical Services
Lea Gilliland, Assistant Professor, Division of Breast Imaging
Kelda Kemp, Advanced Practice Provider, Division of Interventional Radiology
Geetika Khanna, Professor and Associate Director, Division of Pediatric Imaging
Bill Majdalany, Associate Professor and Interventional Radiology Residency Program Director
Frank Minja, Associate Professor, Division of Neuroradiology, and Co-chair, Emory Radiology Global Health Committee
Kendra Moore, Director of Business and Finance
Dani Njeri, Radiology Education Coordinator
Shelby Tilley, Business Operations Manager
Tracy Vaughn, Manager, Radiology Services, Breast Center
Enjoy your RLA experience and we look forward to your presentations next summer!