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The Taskforce that Navigated the College’s Pandemic Response
The Taskforce that Navigated the College’s Pandemic Response
COVID-19 presented many challenges over the past 18 months and was disruptive for all areas of the College’s work. The College Board responded quickly to the pandemic by forming a COVID-19 Taskforce on 9 March 2020 with the aim of coordinating a whole-of-College response to COVID-19 in a timely manner to the rapidly changing health environment.
The Taskforce ensured that the College’s response encompassed all key precautions, information and professional support for members and their patients.
The Taskforce members were:
• Dr Meredith Thomas, Chief Censor Faculty of Clinical Radiology
• Dr Yaw Chin, Chief Censor Faculty of Radiation Oncology
• Adj Clin Prof Stacy Goergen, Chair Safety and Quality Committee FCR
• Dr Lisa Sorger, Councillor FCR
• Prof Liz Kenny, Councillor FRO
• Dr Johann Tang, Councillor FRO
• Prof Alan Coulthard, Director nominated by the Board
• Dr Sharyn MacDonald, Chair Australian and New Zealand Society of Thoracic Radiology (ANZSTR) and New Zealand representative
• Ms Natalia Vukolova/Mr Mark Nevin, RANZCR CEO (Chair)
• Ms Lucy Hutton, RANZCR Senior Media and Communications Officer
At the end of March 2021, the College Board discussed the College’s move towards a ‘new normal’ and the accompanying significant decrease in the need for rapid decision-making. For this reason, the Board decided that governance oversight of decisions relating to COVID-19 will revert to the College’s usual governance processes through Faculty Councils and their subordinate bodies.
Rapidly delivering considered guidance material to members
On behalf of the Board, College President Dr Lance Lawler thanked the Taskforce for their invaluable contributions which were critical in so many areas including:
The Taskforce continually monitored emerging pieces of literature relevant to radiology and radiation oncology members. At the peak of the pandemic these were numerous and released every few days. The resources were quickly identified and shared with College members. They included key links to educational material on imaging findings, clinical advice and links to information on how members could prepare their service or practice to cope with the challenges brought by the pandemic.
These materials continue to be reviewed and emerging literature will continue to be shared with members on the College website at: www.ranzcr.com/our-work/coronavirus/ resources-and-useful-links
Prof Liz Kenny
Dr Meredith Thomas
Averting a potential future workforce crisis by assisting preparations for examinations
COVID-19 was perhaps most disruptive for the College’s examination timetables and processes. The Taskforce was able to assist the examination committees, examiners and staff to deliver successful examination series for clinical radiology and radiation oncology trainees. It is our College’s purpose to drive optimum health outcomes by leading, training and sustaining our professions to provide excellent care for patients.
Our world-leading training and assessment program is at the core of that work. The contributions by all involved in examinations in 2020 ensured that our next generation of clinical radiologists and radiation oncologists will provide the services that patients require, averting a potential future workforce gap.
Prof Alan Coulthard
Dr Yaw Chin
Prioritising the health and wellbeing of members, trainees and IMGs
Issues relating to wellbeing, work-life balance and burnout are always at the forefront of the College’s mind, but usual stresses and burdens were only intensified by COVID-19. The Taskforce led work to provide a suite of practical information and useful resources to support the health and wellbeing of College members, especially trainees and IMGs who were faced with unprecedented challenges to continue their training and in many cases, being isolated from their families and friends overseas.
These resources are available on the College website here: www.ranzcr.com/fellows/general/ your-wellbeing
Adj Clin Prof Stacy Goergen
Ms Natalia Vukolova
Advocating on key issues including access to PPE and ensuring patient access to regional radiology services
The College joined with the Australian Diagnostic Imaging Association (ADIA), the Australian Society of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy (ASMIRT), the Australasian Sonography Association (ASA), the Medical Imaging Nursing Association (MINA), the Australasian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine (ACPSEM), and the New Zealand Institute of Medical Radiation Technology (NZIMRT) to release the position statement COVID-19 Essential role of clinical radiology services in March 2020. It highlighted concerning reports that radiology departments and practices were experiencing difficulties accessing personal protective equipment (PPE) and formed the basis of strong advocacy to governments.
Other critical statements were developed on ensuring patients continued to have timely access to radiology services during lockdown; artificial intelligence and COVID-19; the appropriate use of CT during the pandemic; and safely resuming services as restrictions eased across Australia and New Zealand.
Mr Mark Nevin
Dr Lisa Sorger
Reassuring patients that it was safe to continue with their tests and treatments
During the peak of COVID restrictions in Australia, radiation oncologists were concerned that cancer patients were not attending their required consultations or discontinuing their treatment after making incorrect assumptions about the safety, availability or capacity of clinical services. The Taskforce assisted the Faculty of Radiation Oncology to develop a media campaign encouraging cancer patients to continue treatment and reassuring them that special provisions were in place to make services safely accessible.
Dr Johann Tang
Dr Sharyn MacDonald
