Rural hospital switches radiology providers to address lagging wait times

A Michigan rural healthcare facility recently switched radiology providers as leaders aim to address lagging wait times. 

Hillsdale Hospital has entered an agreement with Kalamazoo-based Premier Radiology, with the new arrangement starting Oct. 21. Located in the largest community of Hillsdale County, in far south Michigan, the hospital said Premier has promised faster turnaround times for outpatient and ER imaging results. 

In addition, Premier will provide an increased number of radiologists to read scans and an array of subspecialities including neuroradiology. Hillsdale previously teamed with Premier and is now switching back after facing issues with its unidentified former partner. 

“We have worked with Premier Radiology in the past and since their departure, our patients have felt the strain of longer wait times,” Jeremiah J. Hodshire, Hillsdale Hospital president and CEO, said in a statement Oct. 14. “At Hillsdale Hospital, we’re not going to settle for less than superior services. Now, our patients can rest assured they will receive their test results in a timely manner.”

Premier has more than triple the radiologist count of the last Hillsdale partner. Hodshire and colleagues said they plan to “significantly” reduce wait times for imaging results with the new partnership. The hospital provides the full gamut of imaging services including X-ray, MR, ultrasound, CT and nuclear medicine, among others. 

“The array of radiology services we’re able to offer reflects our goal to serve this community with high-quality, specialized health care,” Hodshire said in the announcement. “We want to encourage our patients that they can receive timely radiology test results as part of their care journeys, and they don’t have to leave the local area to do it.”

Correction: An earlier version of this story misidentified the Premier Radiology with which Hillsdale Hospital is partnering. Radiology Business regrets the error.