Alleviating radiologists’ childcare woes: A roadmap for the 21st century

Abstract

This manuscript illuminates the need for childcare support for trainees and faculty in the field of radiology, highlighting the essential need for access, affordability, and high-quality childcare services. For over four decades, women radiologists have voiced the challenges of meeting both childcare and professional responsibilities. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted systemic inadequacies in the childcare infrastructure, exacerbating the challenges of this long-standing balancing act. The 2022 National Plan for Health Workforce Well-Being and the American Medical Association's (AMA) recent resolutions underscore the necessity of affordable, high-quality childcare in recruiting and retaining a diverse healthcare workforce. Despite the recent federal threshold categorizing childcare costs as affordable when they comprise 7% of household income, many families allocate >30% of household income to childcare. Disparities in childcare disproportionately impact women, leading to increased burnout and attrition rates in healthcare. This review explores exemplary childcare initiatives across various economic sectors that demonstrate positive returns on investment and employee retention. The manuscript provides actionable recommendations for radiology departments that can enhance workforce well-being. By addressing childcare needs, the field of radiology can improve the lives of parenting professionals and the patients they serve.