April 01, 2026

Talking with Patients about Bad News (HLOL #270)

20 minutes

Jennifer Harvey MD, FACR is Professor and Chair of Imaging Sciences at the University of Rochester in New York. Prior to this, she was Professor of Radiology at the University of Virginia Health System where she led the division of Breast Imaging and the Breast Care Program. Dr. Harvey served as the breast imaging section head for the American Institute of Radiologic Pathology and continues as faculty. Among her many accomplishments, Dr. Harvey is a well-published researcher, lecturer, and journal editor. Her book, Making the Diagnosis: A Practical Approach to Breast Imaging, has been translated into 4 languages.

Listen as Dr. Harvey talks with Helen Osborne about:

The role of radiologists in breast care.

Talking with patients about bad news. This might happen in-person, by phone, or in advance of patients seeing their results on a portal.

Strategies for making bad news easier for patients to hear and physicians to discuss.

More Ways to Learn:

Making the Diagnosis: A Practical Approach to Breast Imaging, by Jennifer Harvey and David E March, published by Saunders.

· “Breaking Bad News: A Primer for Radiologists in Breast Imaging.” Harvey, Jennifer A. et al. Journal of the American College of Radiology, Volume 4, Issue 11, 800 – 808

“New Protocol Helps Radiologists Navigate Difficult Conversations: Framework offers seven-stop approach to delivering sensitive results with clarity and compassion,” by Melissa Silverberg, RSNA, Dec 05, 2025.

Dense Breast-info.org

Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Third Edition, by Helen Osborne. The chapter “You: Compassion, Empathy, and Humanity” is especially relevant to this podcast episode.

Read a transcript of this podcast.

The post Talking with Patients about Bad News (HLOL #270) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.

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By Helen Osborne

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