Human Flourishing and the Diagnostic Imaging Experience

Abstract

Diagnostic Imaging is critical to modern healthcare. However, diagnostic imaging services are pressured to either increase efficiency in a for-profit environment as in the United States or maximize output within a cost constrained environment as in managed care systems like national health systems. Prioritizing efficiency in image production and report generation over medical imaging care effectiveness harms diagnostic imaging professionals (radiologists and technologists) evidenced by high burnout rates. This brutal market philosophy reduces the patient to a biomedical engineering problem while turning healthcare professionals into human assembly line workers. Diagnostic imaging should be governed by a holistic philosophy that draws upon medicine’s biopsychosocial-spiritual model directed towards basic goods (new natural law philosophy) and hallmarks of flourishing (positive psychology). Human flourishing and resilience stem from a balanced and harmonious life incorporating all our dimensions oriented towards the basic goods. Those who live frantic, distracted, and out of balance lives lack resilience and will not care well for suffering patients or colleagues during daily challenges. Healthcare professionals who live a balanced and virtuous life can love medicine for its own internal good and love those associated with medicine. Pursuing diagnostic imaging excellence for its own sake is one of five hallmarks of flourishing and supports the additional basic goods of life and health. Excellent diagnostic imaging results in safe procedures that reduce diagnostic uncertainty. Clearer diagnoses lessen patients’ and clinicians’ anxiety while also providing a straightforward path to healing. Loving or pursuing the good of those associated with imaging gives meaning (flourishing hallmark) through the basic good of friendship. The institution must provide both time and resources to facilitate excellent work while not burdening their professionals with valueless tasks. Lastly, the institution should not prioritize other goods (e.g., efficiency or money) above excellent and effective healthcare. A healthy imaging experience consists of diagnostic imaging professionals who value and pursue excellence while working in institutions that support and reward these pursuits, thus fully reducing diagnostic uncertainty. This leads to better patient health outcomes. The result is a humanized diagnostic imaging experience that incorporates all our dimensions, whereby, everyone flourishes.