Reflection 3/18

Jessie Z -

Good morning blog post readers,

As I start working again after spring break, I find it a good time to write some reflections. One challenge that I am currently facing is that many of the physicians I’m collaborating with have very busy day to day schedules. Typically, OB/GYNs schedule patients every 10 minutes and see 20-35 patients a day. Likewise, a pathologist typically examines specimens and analyzes lab results for 30-40 patient cases a day. And last but not least, a radiologist might review anywhere from 20 to 100 scans or more per day, with each scan potentially containing thousands of images. My research work relies on their clinical information, pathology images, radiology images, and annotations, but it does take them around a month or so to provide all this detailed information. This challenge also calls attention to a problem many patients see in healthcare. There is a high demand for healthcare services but a shortage of physicians. Additionally, physicians spend a significant amount of time (and unfortunately the time is only increasing) on paperwork, electronic medical records, and administrative tasks, which can take away from patient care time. For these reasons, it is common for patients to raise complaints about their appointments being too short.

As I wait for the detailed clinical information and pathology findings, this week, I’m helping Dr. Tan write up a case report to publish in Diagnosis Please, which is a competition radiologists globally like to participate in. From what I’ve gathered, it seems this competition showcases a challenging array of cases, and radiologists attempt to contribute their best diagnosis for each case. This has become an especially enriching part of academic training for some residents.

Thanks for reading and have a great rest of the week!

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Comments:

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    vishruth_p
    Jessie, your post highlights how demanding a physician’s schedule can be. Have you come across any strategies or technologies that might help reduce administrative burdens so doctors can spend more time with patients?
    March 18, 2025 at 10:00 pm - Reply
    bhavitha_s
    Hi Jessie! Your mention of "Diagnosis Please" at the end seemed interesting! Will this case report you're helping write up eventually be published on this platform for review and comments from other radiologists?
    March 20, 2025 at 3:50 pm - Reply
    valerie_p
    Great post, Jessie! I'm wondering, you've noticed healthcare workers spending a lot of time on administrative tasks and electronic paperwork, and in your opinion, do you think a lot of these tasks and record-keeping systems could be simplified? Or is it just a necessary component we must stomach?
    March 31, 2025 at 4:12 am - Reply
    jessie_z
    Hi Valerie! I think a lot of administrative tasks and electronic paperwork in healthcare could definitely be simplified. For example, electronic health records often require workers to navigate through multiple screens and enter redundant information, which takes up valuable time that could be spent with patients.
    March 31, 2025 at 10:06 am - Reply
    jessie_z
    Hi Bhavitha! Yes, I'm hoping it will be eventually published, but the process for publication may take months.
    March 31, 2025 at 10:08 am - Reply
    jessie_z
    Hi Vishi, so far I've seen AI-driven tools being integrated into Electronic Health Records to help automate routine tasks. These can include things like data entry, flagging abnormal test results, and even suggesting diagnoses or treatment options.
    March 31, 2025 at 10:10 am - Reply

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