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By Rochelle A. Anderson RT(R) (M) RDMS (ABD) (OB/GYN)
As a new AHRA member that had never attended one of their meetings, I thought that I would apply for the Osborn scholarship in hopes of attending the 2019 Spring Conference in San Antonio. I was pleasantly surprised when I was selected as a recipient. I think that most of us feel we are charged up and ready to face the everyday challenges and requirements expected of us, but the truth is, every once in a while we need an added boost. I received that boost by attending the Spring Conference. I used to think that I was the only one that didn’t have the staff to fill that core schedule, not to mention the vacations and other days off people requested. I thought I was the only one who received 50 or more emails a day and whose administration said, do more with less! The truth is we are all in the same boat just floating down a different river. AHRA gives you the networking tools and resources to do your job, excel at work and enjoy life again.
When I returned home I immediately sat in front of my computer on Monday morning and told myself my new motto is “Get Stuff Done” (GSD). I am trying an approach of delegation, prioritizing and just plain finishing those projects that have been hanging over my head for months. I have been in Medical Imaging for 32 years and have been in either a Supervisor or Manager role for at least 25 of those years. I thought I knew all the tricks of the trade but I was so wrong. Those three short days in San Antonio taught me so much. Since I have been back I have been able to hire staff for difficult job openings and with the help of the AHRA forum, we are working on restructuring our Ultrasound schedule to provide better coverage and better work life balance for our technologists. I have also been able to get a mobile mammography unit out on the road. Thanks to the Basic Management Track class Introduction to Imaging Informatics, I know what questions to ask of my PACS team as well as our Information Health Technology department.
The other day I was sitting at my desk and simultaneously I received seven notifications that someone needed my time: an email, a Skype message, a text message, a Volte (in house communication) message, my office phone, someone standing in my doorway and my husband calling to ask what I was cooking for dinner. So yes, I know how that mighty tree feels, we have to be able to spread ourselves in many directions but never lose track of our roots and what we are here to accomplish. Sometimes we just have to take one message at a time and GSD then move on to the next one.
Just remember you are not the only one experiencing these things, utilize the tools that the AHRA gives you and life will be more efficient and enjoyable.
Rochelle A. Anderson is the Medical Imaging Manager at St. Luke’s Magic Valley in Twin Falls, ID. She can be reached at andersro@slhs.org
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Great article!