Maximizing the Patient Experience of Care: On-Boarding for New Graduates

Speakers: Stephanie Holden, PhD, MCHES, R.T.(R)(QM)(MR)(ARRT), Tarrant County College

Surveys to assess the patient's experience of care have become commonplace throughout healthcare. Such survey findings can support various strategies throughout healthcare systems that also include strategies or initiatives specific to inpatient and outpatient imaging departments. General patient care concepts are staples of the standard Radiologic Technology curriculum, and the entry-level Radiologic Technologist must adhere to the ARRT Code of Ethics (#3). Can the traditional patient care course prepare the new graduate Radiologic Technologist for diverse patient population groups and family caregivers. With some state-supported higher education schools and colleges having to restrict topics related to diversity, equity, and inclusion due to regulations; on-boarding new graduates to the organizational and departmental expectations maybe needed to maintain or improve the patient experience of care. Departmental on-boarding to align with the overarching organizational mission to address and maximize the patient experience of care, may serve to fill any potential knowledge gaps related to care for diverse patient groups. Medical imaging leaders that serve on Radiologic Technology advisory committees can advise academic program leaders on apolitical approaches for different patient groups seen in their respective departments. Once such approach was introduced by Oben (2020). As a novel approach, Oben (2020) explored the patient experience of care through the lens of the human experience framework. Thus, options or alternatives exist to acculturate the new graduate Radiologic Technologist to an organization or department to maintain ongoing efforts to improve the patient's experience of care.