Patient-centered radiology: a roadmap for outpatient imaging

Creating a patient-centered experience is becoming increasingly important for radiology departments around the world. The goal of patient-centered radiology is to ensure that radiology services are sensitive to patients' needs and desires. This article provides a framework for addressing the patient's experience by dividing their imaging journey into three distinct time periods: pre-exam, day of exam, and post-exam. Each time period has aspects that can contribute to patient anxiety. Although there are components of the patient journey that are common in all regions of the world, there are also unique features that vary by location. This paper highlights innovative solutions from different parts of the world that have been introduced in each of these time periods to create a more patient-centered experience. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: Adopting innovative solutions that help patients understand their imaging journey and decrease their anxiety about undergoing an imaging examination are important steps in creating a patient centered imaging experience. KEY POINTS: • Patients often experience anxiety during their imaging journey and decreasing this anxiety is an important component of patient centered imaging. • The patient imaging journey can be divided into three distinct time periods: pre-exam, day of exam, and post-exam. • Although components of the imaging journey are common, there are local differences in different regions of the world that need to be considered when constructing a patient centered experience.