November 4, 2024
How does a teleradiology practice like Connexia stay coordinated in a virtual environment? Through the talents of our team members like Imaging Workflow Specialist/Air Traffic Controller Elisse Brown, who is a pivotal part of the operations process.
We sat down with Elisse to discuss her 20+ year career in healthcare, what makes her role at Connexia unique, and more. Read her responses in her spotlight below!
Q: What does a typical day in your role look like?
A: Some days are routine while other days look totally different! In general, my role encompasses the administrative side of radiology. We make sure everything is running smoothly.
From the moment I start my day, there is often immediate collaboration with others. Perhaps an exam needs to be adjusted before the radiologist can read it; or maybe we need more information on an imaging study. Depending on the request, we collaborate with center managers, rad techs, our radiologists, or other members of our Connexia team to collectively problem-solve and identify solutions.
Everything I do goes back to making sure that each exam is complete and accurate, so the radiologists can focus on reading and we can get that report to the provider and patient as soon as we possibly can. And at the same time, we’re making sure that every exam is given the dedicated attention it deserves.
Q: Can you tell us about your background in the field prior to Connexia? How is this role similar or different from your past experience?
A: I’ve worked in healthcare for 20 years, and specifically in radiology for the past nine. I worked in a multimodality radiology department in a hospital as the sole operations assistant. In that role, I was involved in a little bit of everything: positioning patients for exams, working codes, assisting with interventional radiology procedures and more. And I’ve held a lot of patients' hands in the middle of all of that.
I don’t think I realized how invaluable my hands-on experience would be when I transitioned to a new role. Now, if a radiology tech or manager reaches out for assistance, I have a much clearer understanding of what they need and can help quickly.
A lot of what I do today I would have done in the hospital setting, as well. I worked on administrative tasks in my previous roles, but this is my first venture into teleradiology - and I love it. At Connexia specifically, the emphasis placed on work-life balance is fantastic. It feels like my job is on my terms, and that’s just something that you can’t put a price tag on.
Q: What might you say to someone who is considering transitioning to teleradiology from a more traditional environment?
A: Coming from an acute care environment like a hospital, I noticed a drastic change from seeing how many procedures can fit into a 12-hour shift versus moving to a five-day-a-week, outpatient scenario like Connexia. It’s a night and day difference. I value the sense of autonomy that teleradiology gives me, and the connections I’m building with others to ensure I have relationships in place to do my job well.
If anything, being remote necessitates more collaboration than being in-person. That constant connection with others has become something I love the most about the job. I’m an extrovert by nature, so that makes sense - but for introverts, it can be great as well. Teleradiology roles can help you step outside of your comfort zone.
Even while working remotely, I still feel deeply connected to our mission of patient care. There is a patient behind every exam we read, and I care passionately about that.
Q: When you’re not at work, where can we find you?
A: We love to travel, so if I’m not traveling, I’m planning my next trip. You might also find me outside, spending time working in the yard, playing with our dogs, or planning for the newest arrival to our family - we are expecting our first grandchild in December!