Call for interest
The ESR-PAG seeks to enhance its membership to advocate for a patient-centred approach within radiology across Europe and to maintain a close alignment between professionals and the patient community.
Development of a new strategy to promote patient-centredness in radiology and increase involvement in the work of the ESR
Developments in medical imaging and the rapidly evolving patient-doctor relationship encourage the European Society of Radiology Patient Advisory Group (ESR-PAG), bringing together imaging professionals and patients, to continuously strive for an even higher level of patient engagement within medical imaging across Europe. To meet growing expectations on the side of patients and radiologists, the ESR-PAG and the ESR are delighted to release the new strategy [2] ‘ESR-PAG: a Strategy for 2019 and Beyond’ that, building on the fruitful collaboration between the ESR and the patient community, is aimed at further enhancing patient-centredness in medical imaging.
The strategy sets out the ambition of enhancing the membership to even better reflect the wide diversity of the patient community that adds crucial expertise to the discussion on how to optimise radiology procedures for patients. Traditionally hosting patient sessions at the annual European Congress of Radiology (ECR), the ESR-PAG seeks to ensure patient issues are optimally addressed in upcoming editions. Making use of the potential of the ECR, a wider involvement of patients is sought with the aim of adequately informing radiologists of patient concerns and vice versa. While existing policy areas, with a focus on the patient-professional relationship and communication, will remain at the top of the agenda, the ESR-PAG will look into new topics that are at the intersection of patients and radiology.
Living up to the promise to explore new areas, the ESR-PAG will actively take part in shaping the debate and adapting the concept of value-based radiology towards patient-centredness. To this end, the ESR and the ESR-PAG will join forces to ensure the patient perspective is reflected in scientific publications and ESR positions. The rapid introduction of digital solutions and Artificial Intelligence in medical imaging inevitably affects the patient-professional relationship, while the shift to digitisation also offers pathways towards patient empowerment. Exploring patient concerns with regards to the use of digital solutions, the ESR-PAG will reflect on concrete initiatives to adapt digital tools integrated in medical imaging to shared decision-making and patient empowerment.
Considering the radiologist’s limited visibility during the care pathway, communicating the precise role of the radiologists to patients is central to the work of the ESR-PAG. In light of this challenge, the ESR-PAG will raise its voice in ESR activities and policy debates with the aim of triggering additional interest in patient representation within radiology. In return, ESR-PAG input will feed into the activities of the various ESR bodies and committees through a system of structured patient representation. In the short- to mid-term, the ESR-PAG should ultimately be transformed into a group of committed patient ambassadors, which, jointly with the ESR, puts the patient at the centre of medical imaging.
Development of information for patients
One of the group’s objectives is to raise awareness and to improve the knowledge of patients on medical imaging. Adequate information medical imaging procedures requires close collaboration between the radiologists and radiographers, having the necessary expertise, and the patients, providing the ‘questions to be asked’.
Collaboration on European topics of common interest
Over the past years, it has shown how vital a combined approach between healthcare professionals and patients can be in order to get recognised and raise awareness for issues of common interest at the European political level.
Contribution to ESR publications
The ESR-PAG not only contribute to various ESR initiatives but also provides its direct feedback and input by reviewing strategic ESR white papers or action plans on the society’s core activities, guidelines and statements, making sure the patient perspective is heard and reflected.
ESR-PAG Social Media team
In 2019, it was decided that a ESR-PAG Social Media Team could help to improve the ESR-PAG’s visibility. A social media strategy is being developed and the launch on social media is scheduled for mid January 2020. It was also decided to use the hashtag #ESR_PAG for posts on social media networks to signpost viewers to the activities of the PAG making the group more visible. At launch, the ESR Twitter account operators will post two tweets per week at favourable times to the audience. The Social Media Team and the PAG members will also use their own channels to interact, promote tweets and to disseminate the news to a wider audience.
Achievements to date
• The ESR-PAG has continued to play a prominent role in shaping ESR activities since its establishment in 2013.
• The ESR-PAG has contributed to the ESR flagship radiation protection initiative “EuroSafe Imaging” by offering input on topics in relation to patient safety and quality of care. A patient representative is included in the EuroSafe Imaging Steering Committee.
• Dedicated patient sessions at the European Congress of Radiology (ECR) provide a platform for patient representatives to highlight the value of a patient-centred approach in medical imaging.
• The ESR-PAG together with the ESR Audit & Standards Subcommittee developed a driver diagram on patient-centred care in clinical radiology in order to better embed a patient-centred human approach in both the activities of the ESR and radiology departments.
• An “ESR-PAG leaflet” was developed and released to increase visibility in the health community and to encourage stakeholders to engage with the ESR-PAG in the field of medical imaging.
• The ESR-PAG was counted on for providing the patient’s perspective in official ESR publications and statements and position papers developed in close collaboration with partner organisations.
• Members of the ESR-PAG have shared insights and knowledge at various ESR events in light of the ESR’s strong commitment to patient engagement.
• The ESR-PAG has participated in the ESR Annual Leadership Meetings to actively highlight the role of patients in the activities of the ESR.
• In collaboration with the ESR Audit & Standards Subcommittee, the ESR-PAG successfully developed a “Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire”, which was introduced at the ECR 2017, in view of improving performance in radiology departments.
• The ESR-PAG has contributed to ESR activities in the area of value-based radiology to provide the patient’s perspective on value in radiology.