For Radiologic Technologists ·
What you'll accomplish
By the end of this guide, you'll have a library of customized patient communication scripts for your most challenging scenarios — MRI claustrophobia, contrast concerns, radiation questions, pediatric exams, and non-English speakers — all saved and ready to use on the floor.
What you'll need
Open ChatGPT and start with this context-setting message:
I'm a radiologic technologist. I need help creating a library of patient communication scripts for challenging scenarios. All scripts should be: warm, calm, and non-clinical in language; appropriate for a patient with no medical background; under 100 words each; something I can say verbally or hand to a patient as a written card. Ready to start?
Ask:
Write a verbal script for calming a mildly claustrophobic patient before and during an MRI. Include: (1) a reassuring opening before they get in the bore, (2) a brief instruction as they slide in, (3) a breathing technique they can use if they feel anxious, and (4) a "check-in" phrase I can use midway through the scan to help them hold on.
Save the output to your notes app under "MRI Claustrophobia."
Ask:
Write a 4-sentence verbal response for when a patient asks "How much radiation am I getting?" for a [chest X-ray / CT abdomen]. Compare the dose to an everyday experience they'll recognize. Be reassuring but honest — don't dismiss their concern.
Generate separate versions for X-ray and CT — they're very different dose levels and warrant different answers.
Ask:
Write a verbal script for when a patient says they're nervous about getting IV contrast for a CT scan. Address: what contrast does and feels like, common side effects vs. serious reactions, and what we do if they have a reaction. Keep it under 80 words and avoid the word "risk."
For your most frequent non-English-speaking patients, ask:
Translate this MRI safety screening explanation into Spanish [or Mandarin, or Vietnamese]: [paste your English MRI safety script]. Keep the same tone — calm and friendly.
Important: Have a fluent colleague review AI translations before using them with real patients — AI translations are generally accurate but should be verified for clinical communication.
Organize all your scripts in a single notes app document or print them as laminated cards:
Keep the digital version on your phone and a printed set at your workstation.
Pediatric scripts by age:
Write a procedure explanation for a [4-year-old / 8-year-old / 12-year-old] about to have a [chest X-ray / CT scan]. Include something to make it feel less scary.
Difficult patient pushback:
A patient is refusing to remove their jewelry for an MRI and says "I've had MRIs before with it on." Write a calm response that acknowledges their experience but explains why we still need to follow protocol.
Post-exam instructions:
Write verbal post-exam instructions for a patient who just had CT with IV contrast. Include hydration advice, when to call us, and what normal sensations to expect. Plain language, under 60 words.
Confused elderly patient:
Write a simple, patient explanation of what a chest X-ray is for an elderly patient who seems confused about why they're getting one. Very short — 3 sentences. Large font friendly language.