Earlier this week, we described the looming shortage of radiologists in the US; this week the focus turns to radiologic technologists. A new report from the ASRT and other groups suggests the shortage of RT positions is severe, but offers some solutions.
The healthcare industry has suffered in the post-COVID era as the need for medical services has surged due to the aging population while the number of personnel has dropped as staff leave because of retirement, burnout, and other reasons.
- At the same time, fewer trainees are entering healthcare, a phenomenon that’s particularly problematic with allied health personnel like nurses and technologists.
The numbers are dire, based on previously collected data …
- Vacancy rates for all medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals are at the highest levels since the ASRT began tracking staffing in 2003
- The radiographer vacancy rate nearly tripled in 2023 compared to 2021 (18% vs. 6.2%)
- The number of people taking the ARRT’s radiography certification exam in 2022 fell 18% compared to 2006 (14.3k vs. 17.5k)
To address the problem, ASRT collaborated with 17 other radiological sciences groups including ARRT and JRCERT to first conduct a survey of 8.7k medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals to assess their work environment.
- The groups then convened a two-day meeting in February at ASRT headquarters in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
They agreed on six major solutions to address the workforce crisis …
- Raise awareness through campaigns such as via social media to attract new students
- Articulate clear career pathways so professionals can choose careers in clinical practice, management, or education at different levels and roles. This would include a new entry-level role, imaging medical aide (IMA), that would be offered by high schools and community colleges as a stepping stone to RT status
- Create a pipeline from educational programs to the workplace, and make AI a mandatory part of the educational curriculum
- Build a career ladder that defines different clinical titles for professionals in clinical and leadership roles
- Expand educational opportunities such as in rural and underserved communities, and create a one-stop-shop portal for educators
- Improve workplace satisfaction through tools such as awards programs and CE opportunities on workplace satisfaction
The Takeaway
Trying to work against powerful demographic trends can sometimes seem like swimming upstream. But the new report is a good first start toward a more organized and unified response to the radiologic technologist staffing shortage.
