Eric Postal, MD

ACOs mean the healthcare team will have to manage care under a budget. Who, then, will be the gatekeeper? Will radiologists step up the challenge?

The harder you make it for others to read your radiology reports, the less readily they'll persevere to find fault with you. Here are some tips.

In radiology, it’s easy to feel frequently worried, depressed or enraged. But then there are the isles of sanity in my career that really provide good vibes.

Rather than pay docs fairly, we could create a monastic Physician Brotherhood, which would in turn receive goods and services for free.

When I hear these commonly said phrases so often, I am not overcome by respect for those speaking them. My internal dialog screams to the contrary.

More Saturday coverage and longer days - for nothing? No thanks. Newsflash: People don't like working, but will do it if you properly motivate them.

As a distance runner and a teleradiologist, I prefer the slow and steady accomplishment of the long haul.

The notion of a physician as genuine leader of a healthcare team has fallen into disrepute. And it's handy to have someone to blame.

Politicos with an agenda will wave the gorilla article and say radiologists need more oversight to ensure we don’t miss gorillas while they’re still treatable.

Radiology can be an isolating field. But as our dealings with others get less direct, communications can be misunderstood, unanswered, or lost.

Excessive cash flow? Full-functioning speech recognition? Here are some blog topic ideas that might not see the light of day.

Those oft-repeated stories about physicians that resonate well with people outside of and unfamiliar with still permeate conversations.

It’s time for another round of history and physical examination forms. Here are some more absurd forms that could be added to the absurdity.

What if grocery shopping was like health care, where volume, overhead, and equipment utilization was factored into the cost of food?

Most physicians have no input into the writing and rewriting of their rules. When the rule-changes don’t consult us, how locked into this game are we?

Did you resolve to lose weight? Be more charitable? Let’s be realistic. Here’s how some outside influences are telling radiologists to change in 2013.

There are quite a few lame excuses for not giving enteric or intravenous contrast. Here are some clinicians’ rationales for unenhanced scanning.

A radiologist tries to deliver critical CT findings. Does this series of exchanges sound familiar?

Many radiologists can bring their non-interpretative skills to bear in the workplace, in ways both intellectually satisfying and financially rewarding.

Why would radiologists, who appear to have been a fairly intelligent, industrious lot, elaborate such a roster of gods to hold dominion over them?

What would a future civilization think if they were to come across our radiological gear?

Radiologists in many ways are like the lab rats facing electric shocks in the cage. Except that when there’s more pain than gain, we can escape.

Being compensated for your work is seen as acceptable, even honorable. But sometimes, one is expected to work for less or for nothing.

In the presidential debates, being reasonable isn’t rewarded. The same is true in medicine, where our reasonableness is met with more cuts and regulations.

Defensive or vague wording in radiology reports may protect me by making it harder to pin me down - but it’s less helpful to the ordering clinician.

My copilot has no medical experience or credentialing. I suppose her looking at studies could be a HIPPA violation, but I think we’re OK. She’s a cat.

A proposed consumer reporting system for patient safety is the latest anti-physician stick. Where’s the reporting hotline for the besieged health care workers?

None of us radiologists have legitimate dissatisfaction with our careers. Let’s look at all of the wonderful things we encounter each and every day.

Medical games and TV shows are at their best when they are least relevant to the actual health care. And they let me imagine a more glamorous professional reality.

The common medical encounter with SOS - Some Other Sonographer, as opposed to your known and trusted technologist - can bring a harsh reality.