Tag: RTs

Radiology Workforce Shortage Tightens

Posted on by Brian Casey

Radiologist attrition rates have jumped 50% since 2020, and new workforce projections suggest the shortage will only worsen as imaging demand continues to outpace supply. The report – from staffing firm Medicus Healthcare Solutions – projects a worsening supply of radiologists by 2037.

It’s no news to anyone that healthcare is being squeezed by rising volumes from an aging population and chronic staff shortages caused by a training system that simply isn’t turning out enough qualified medical professionals.

  • In radiology, both radiologists and radiologic technologists are in short supply, and there have been only 29 diagnostic radiology PGY-1 training positions added since 2021. 

The Medicus report mostly assembles data acquired from other sources such as a recent study in JACR on radiologist supply, but taken together the numbers paint a sobering picture …

  • Imaging utilization is projected to grow 17-27% by 2055.
  • Radiologist attrition rates have grown 50% since 2020. 
  • Radiologist distribution per 100k population is uneven across the U.S., ranging from 25 radiologists in Minnesota to 9 radiologists in some other states.
  • Reimbursement is falling, with the Medicare conversion factor for 2025 dropping -2.83% for diagnostic radiology and -4.83% for interventional radiology.

What’s to be done? On the positive side, at least one new radiologist residency program started up this year, and legislation was recently introduced that would add 14k residency training slots over seven years. 

  • The report also recommends teleradiology as a possible solution, with 92% of radiologists in a recent survey saying their institution offered remote work options and 73% of radiologists participating in remote work. 

Medicus also advised health systems to take several compensation-focused steps to attract and retain radiologists …

  • Offer flexible, hybrid work schedules.
  • Provide competitive compensation packages and signing bonuses.
  • Improve vacation policies and time-off benefits.

The Takeaway

It’s hard to see short-term Band-Aids like better salary and benefits solving healthcare’s workforce shortage. And some are even questioning whether AI will really help make radiologists more efficient. In the end, systemic changes like a sharp expansion in residency training slots are what’s needed to effect a long-term solution to the staffing dilemma. 

6 Solutions to the RT Shortage

Posted on by Brian Casey

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.

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