As radiology evolves, the patient remains the compass guiding us through a changing healthcare landscape towards what comes next.
FROM THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF CHANCELLORS
Christoph Wald, MD, PhD, MBA, FACR
By Nina S. Vincoff, MD, Chair of the ACR Commission on Patient- and Family-Centered Care
Guest Columnist
The ACR Commission on Patient- and Family-Centered Care (PFCC) traces its roots to the ACR Imaging 3.0 initiative, launched more than a decade ago during a period of significant transformation in healthcare. As payment models evolved and the focus shifted toward quality, outcomes and value, radiology was challenged to define and demonstrate its contribution beyond image interpretation alone. The College recognized that the patient experience would become increasingly important to the future of the specialty. What began as an initiative ultimately evolved into a dedicated Commission focused on helping radiology better serve patients and families — while advancing the value of our profession. Over time, PFCC expanded its work from patient engagement and education to encompass broader efforts related to screening, population health, and practical tools that help radiologists incorporate patient-centered principles into everyday practice.
The challenges facing radiology today are different than when the PFCC was created — and in many ways they may be more consequential. Workforce shortages, AI, increasing imaging demand, evolving patient expectations and new models of care are reshaping the environment in which radiologists practice. While the role of imaging in healthcare continues to expand and imaging volumes continue to rise, the role of radiologists and Radiology itself has never been more subject to scrutiny. Where do radiologists bring value? Where does radiology bring value?
For me, those questions are best answered from the perspective of the patient. If we align our specialty with the needs, expectations and outcomes that matter most to patients, our value becomes clear. Patient-centered care is not simply about improving the patient experience — it is about ensuring that radiology remains relevant, trusted and essential to healthcare delivery.
Looking through the lens of the patient changes how we think about radiology’s future. Patients do not experience healthcare in silos. They are not particularly concerned with which specialty owns a process, where a department sits within an organizational chart, or whether a service is categorized as diagnostic, procedural or consultative. Patients want to understand what is happening to them. They want access to care when they need it. They want clear information, coordinated care and confidence that their healthcare team is working together to help them achieve the best possible outcome.
Looking through the lens of the patient changes how we think about radiology’s future. Patients do not experience healthcare in silos.
Viewed from that perspective, radiology’s value extends far beyond the interpretation of an imaging examination. Diagnostic excellence will always remain the foundation of our specialty, but I believe the role of the radiologist is evolving. Increasingly, radiologists contribute not only to diagnosis, but also to screening, prevention, risk stratification, incidental findings management, population health initiatives and care pathways that extend well beyond a single encounter. In many cases, imaging is no longer the end point of a clinical question — it’s the starting point for a series of decisions that influence a patient's care and outcomes.
This evolution is reflected in many of the initiatives underway across the ACR today. Advances in screening and risk identification are helping identify disease before symptoms develop. Population health initiatives are creating opportunities to use imaging to improve outcomes across entire communities. AI and informatics tools are transforming how information is generated, communicated and acted upon. As radiology becomes increasingly integrated into longitudinal care pathways, our impact will be measured not only by the diagnoses we make, but by how effectively those diagnoses are translated into meaningful action.
This broader view of radiology’s role also shapes my vision for the PFCC. My first priority as Commission chair is to continue expanding the ACR’s efforts to educate and empower patients and their families. Patients today have unprecedented access to medical information, but access does not always translate into understanding. The College has made substantial investments in patient-friendly resources, including educational materials, patient-friendly summaries, animations, and helpful guidance through RadiologyInfo.org. These resources help patients better understand imaging examinations, results and next steps while reinforcing the ACR’s role as a trusted source of information.
My second priority is to equip radiologists and trainees with practical tools that help them deliver patient-centered care every day. Patient-centered care is often discussed as a philosophy, but it is most effective when translated into actionable strategies. Resources that improve communication, address scanxiety and support patient engagement help radiologists incorporate patient-centered principles into routine practice.
My third priority is to ensure that the patient perspective informs the work of the entire College. The ACR appropriately maintains a dedicated PFCC group, but patient-centered care cannot be confined to a single Commission. The patient’s voice is relevant to every Commission and Committee, including quality and safety, informatics, AI, economics, education, advocacy, screening and population health. One of the most important roles PFCC can play is serving as a partner and resource across the College, helping ensure that patient and family perspectives inform decisions throughout the organization.
The PFCC was created during one era of transformation in healthcare. Today, radiology finds itself in another. The technologies are different. The challenges are different. The opportunities are different. The specific questions may have changed, but our path to the answers remains the same. It starts, as always, with the patient.
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