Exploring Cutting-Edge Radiology and Imaging Trends

Leslie Letters is a seasoned radiology and imaging services expert with a proven track record in the medical field and hospital. She is a healthcare services professional with a Master's in Health Administration, focused on Health/Health Care Administration/Management from the University of Cincinnati.

In conversation with MedTech Outlook magazine, Leslie sheds light on the emerging trends and challenges in the medical imaging space.

How has your experience in the field of radiology been so far? In addition, can you elaborate on your current key roles and responsibilities as the current Director of Radiology and Imaging Services at Good Samaritan?

I have always loved interventional radiology, and I started my journey in radiography in 2005. I am an X-ray tech by degree, and throughout my career, I have worked in numerous community hospitals. I am particularly grateful to the hospital I worked for in Tampa, which allowed me to utilize their employee assistance program to obtain my bachelor's and master's degrees. As the director of Good Samaritan Medical Center, I am accountable for keeping tabs on everything that goes on across the radiology department and overseeing everything related to imaging. I am very fortunate to have great team members and highly supportive senior leadership.

We have three outpatient centers and an off-campus emergency room in the hospital, which function under the guidance of supervisors and managers. I conduct weekly meetings with them, and they fill me in on the major updates. 

As for my frontline staff, they are my primary contacts, and I regularly check in with them. Being the director, I like to lead by example. I ensure that all the employees have autonomy and are empowered, and I support them in every possible way so they follow proper procedures and patient safety protocols.

What are some of the major challenges in the radiology and medical imaging equipment space?

Currently, the biggest challenge in radiology is high employee turnover. To minimize the turnover rate, it is critical to develop ways to engage new hires and current employees and re-evaluate the recruitment process.

It is always a good idea to put in effort to know employees' expectations and make necessary arrangements to fulfill them. In today's world, where people are constantly looking out for better opportunities, it is essential to think outside the box, find out the kind of work-life balance employees are striving to achieve, support them, and give them a reason to stay.

Are there any market trends emerging in the space to help tackle the challenges that you mentioned?

To reduce the employee turnover rate, we have developed a comprehensive understanding of their needs. As an employer, we perform regular market evaluations. When we conduct these evaluations, we look beyond the state of Florida, where we are based. We also factor in the current healthcare scenario where more people are leaving the field than new people joining. Comparing and contrasting with other hospitals within the state and beyond helps us identify employees' expectations and pain points, come up with innovative ways to serve their needs, and subsequently reduce employee churn.

Are there any initiatives that you're currently working on?

We are working on upgrading one of our imaging equipment, specifically an MRI machine. So far, it has been a wonderful learning experience. Before starting this project, to be fiscally responsible, we looked at both the pros and cons to conclude whether purchasing a brand-new MRI machine or an upgrade was a better option. 

We compared the possible outcomes in both cases and evaluated how they would impact patient care and revenue. After thoroughly considering all the possibilities, we chose to work in collaboration with the team and upgrade the machine.

If you were to give a piece of advice to your fellow peers and the upcoming professionals in this field, what would it be?

I would say, on a personal level, follow your heart. Every day, when you wake up, remind yourself why you chose to be in this profession. For those who wish to rise to leadership positions, always remember your roots and stay humble.

I would not be where I am if I had not started my journey as an X-ray tech and hadn't done those overnight shifts or worked over the weekends. I know what it's like to be on the front line, and I try to remember that when I make decisions for my team.