Bonus Book Review: Why How to Be a More Efficient Radiologist Belongs on Your Shelf

Host: Matt Covington, MD Twitter: @mfcovington @radrevpodcast

Episode Type: Bonus Review

In radiology, efficiency is everything.

In this episode, Dr. Matt Covington dives into How to Be a More Efficient Radiologist: A Guide to Practice, Reporting, and Workflow Optimization by Long H. Tu, MD, PhD, and collaborators. If you’ve ever felt stuck in slow, clunky workflows or wondered how to get home by 5 without compromising quality, this book may be the best $20 (on Amazon at time of episode posting) you’ll spend this year.

Whether you're a radiology resident learning the ropes, a seasoned attending looking for marginal gains, or a program director building a curriculum—this book delivers practical tools to help you thrive, not just survive.

• Why technical skill is only the starting point—and how efficiency is what separates great radiologists
• Real-world upgrades for PACS navigation, dictation habits, and workstation ergonomics
• Hidden tools (AutoHotKey, structured search patterns, macro optimization) that can shave time off each study
• How this book can change your daily life in the reading room

• Covers workflow strategies that actually save time without sacrificing quality
• Helps residents avoid years of trial-and-error learning
• Offers tips that even senior radiologists may not know (or forgot)
• Especially valuable for Visage PACS users, but applicable across platforms
• Not a casebook—it’s a guide to how to work, not just what to read

Purchase the book by clicking here (affiliate link)

Check out The Radiology Review Gear Guide by clicking here.

Mentioned in this episode:

Board Vitals

Radiology residents—get ready for the ABR CORE Exam with BoardVitals! Access over 1,300 high-yield questions, detailed explanations, and adaptive learning. Study anytime with the mobile app, customize by subject, and track progress. Plus, a 100% pass guarantee! Start your free trial at BoardVitals.com and use code RADREVIEW for 10% off Radiology question banks.

VradJul2025BoardPrepConf

Register now for the free Imaging Jeopardy Board Review Course on August 27—a lively, case-based prep for the ABR Certifying Exam, that past participants call “fun and high yield.” Led by vRad CMO, Dr. Ben Strong, you’ll work through 108 cases across 27 categories in a game-show style format. Plus, win prizes including a trip to the 2026 Practical Radiology CME Conference in Clearwater Beach, Florida. This is serious board prep in a fun format. Visit http://vrad.com/boardreview to learn more.

🎧 Pancreatitis Review for the Radiology Boards

Get up to speed on key imaging findings, diagnostic criteria, and complications of pancreatitis—essential knowledge for radiology board exams. Download your free study guide at www.theradiologyreview.com and take the next step toward success. Prepare to succeed!

Mentioned in this episode:

Board Vitals

Radiology residents—get ready for the ABR CORE Exam with BoardVitals! Access over 1,300 high-yield questions, detailed explanations, and adaptive learning. Study anytime with the mobile app, customize by subject, and track progress. Plus, a 100% pass guarantee! Start your free trial at BoardVitals.com and use code RADREVIEW for 10% off Radiology question banks.

VradJul2025BoardPrepConf

Register now for the free Imaging Jeopardy Board Review Course on August 27—a lively, case-based prep for the ABR Certifying Exam, that past participants call “fun and high yield.” Led by vRad CMO, Dr. Ben Strong, you’ll work through 108 cases across 27 categories in a game-show style format. Plus, win prizes including a trip to the 2026 Practical Radiology CME Conference in Clearwater Beach, Florida. This is serious board prep in a fun format. Visit http://vrad.com/boardreview to learn more.

Review of acute renal imaging for radiology board review. Download the free study guide on this and other free educational episodes at theradiologyreview.com. Prepare to succeed!

Mentioned in this episode:

VradJul2025BoardPrepConf

Register now for the free Imaging Jeopardy Board Review Course on August 27—a lively, case-based prep for the ABR Certifying Exam, that past participants call “fun and high yield.” Led by vRad CMO, Dr. Ben Strong, you’ll work through 108 cases across 27 categories in a game-show style format. Plus, win prizes including a trip to the 2026 Practical Radiology CME Conference in Clearwater Beach, Florida. This is serious board prep in a fun format. Visit http://vrad.com/boardreview to learn more.

Board Vitals

Radiology residents—get ready for the ABR CORE Exam with BoardVitals! Access over 1,300 high-yield questions, detailed explanations, and adaptive learning. Study anytime with the mobile app, customize by subject, and track progress. Plus, a 100% pass guarantee! Start your free trial at BoardVitals.com and use code RADREVIEW for 10% off Radiology question banks.