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    15 September 2007

    Interruptions at work

    A common problem for all radiologists: being interrupted. It's time consuming and disruptive, and the distraction can lead to loss of concentration, and errors in reporting.

    In a 2005 study, researchers at the University of California at Irvine found that information workers at an outsourcing company spent an average of 11 minutes on a project or task before they were interrupted. Once diverted, it took them 25 minutes to return to the original task. Sound familiar?
    Article from CFO.com.

    Nevertheless, being consulted is part of our job.

    Some suggestions, from a letter in Radiology, :
    1. Institute a radiology consultant of the day or specific times for consultation.
    2. Close the door, at least until you have finished reviewing the complex examination on your monitor.
    3. Finish what you are doing before engaging with the clinicians .

    More suggestions are found in this post in Lifehack, How to Avoid Lengthy Interruptions a Work. The one I like best is
    When someone arrives for a pop-bye, stand and greet her but don’t sit down. Standing tells your visitor that you have things to do so let’s get on with it.

    10 September 2007

    Accessories for Owls

    According to Carl Gray, Radiologists and Pathologists tend to be "Owls" (Need three alarm clocks - Hate getting out of bed - Cannot function before 10 am, revived by lunch - Fully functional by mid-afternoon, productive in evenings - Stay up till 1 or 2 am routinely - Cannot sleep because of ideas - On holiday, sleep in even later).

    I'm definitely an Owl.

    I've recently learnt about some useful accessories for the Owl.

    The Sonic Boom Alarm Clock is extremely loud and has a thing that goes under your pillow or mattress to vibrate you out of bed.


    The Flying Alarm Clock flies around your room and you have to get up and catch it to switch it off.

    I already have three alarm clocks, in addition to my wife's and my mobile phones, which makes five alarms in total, and there's no more space on the bedside table...

    7 September 2007

    Radiation exposure and pregnancy

    According to a recent article in Radiographics,
    Radiation doses from properly performed radiologic examinations in pregnant women are extremely unlikely to harm the embryo or fetus; thus, when such examinations are necessary for the patient's health care, they should not be withheld.

    Cynthia H. McCollough, Beth A. Schueler, Thomas D. Atwell, Natalie N. Braun, Dawn M. Regner, Douglas L. Brown, and Andrew J. LeRoy
    Radiation Exposure and Pregnancy: When Should We Be Concerned?
    RadioGraphics 2007 27: 909-917 (DOI: 10.1148/rg.274065149)