RadNet hosts summit to discuss staffing challenges, state of the imaging industry

RadNet Inc. is hosting a summit on Thursday, Sept. 12, to discuss staffing shortages and the state of the imaging industry in one of its core geographies. 

The publicly traded, Los Angeles-based company is convening an all-day event in Maryland, where it operates nearly 60 outpatient imaging centers. Those speaking will include leaders from RadNet, local hospital systems, and the CEOs of three radiologic technologist organizations (ASRT, ARRT and JRCERT). 

Organizer Kimberly Bathurst said the event came together after RadNet worked with others in Maryland to advocate for local legislation. Imaging stakeholders in the state saw a need to collaborate further to “stimulate progress in the field.” 

The COVID-19 pandemic and other factors have brought about “unprecedented change” for front-line radiologic technologists. RadNet is seeing a “shift in the availability of qualified technologists,” according to the event’s webpage. This despite demand for preventive cancer screenings continuing to grow. 

Imaging leaders believe “full scale collaboration among experts” is the “ideal way to address these issues,” according to the event page. 

“It's really about how we build pipelines, inspire youth, and raise awareness to this amazing career of radiologic technology,” Bathurst, a registered rad tech and RadNet’s associate VP of women’s health and screening services in the East Region, told Radiology Business by phone. “There is certainly a lot of focus on doctors and nurses these days, but I don't think people give a lot of thought to who is that person imaging a broken arm, wrist or foot. So, the event really is about how we educate and inspire tomorrow's radiologic technologist.”

The event will start with a morning of speakers providing different perspectives on ways to bolster the rad tech workforce. Others on the agenda include the founder of Girls Action Network, a nonprofit that helps individuals reach their full potential; the director of the Anne Arundel Community College’s rad tech program; GE HealthCare’s VP of imaging clinical applications; and talent acquisition/HR specialists from RadNet. In the afternoon, attendees will separate into roundtable groups to discuss solutions for the problems plaguing the profession. At least four Maryland legislators also had committed to attend as of Monday, Bathurst noted. 

“I think by the afternoon we'll have a great conversation and hopefully have some action items to come at this issue moving forward,” she said. 

Bathurst is anticipating about 100 attendees at the summit, titled “Maryland Radiologic Technologists: Partnering for Progress.” For those who want to get involved afterward, she said RadNet hopes to form an advisory committee and continue the conversation.

“By working together as colleagues—experts who have first-hand experience with patient and provider needs—we can create a shared vision and address this shift,” the event description noted. “This summit is a working meeting, a chance to roll up our sleeves, understand the issues, and forge actionable strategies to expand the careers of radiologic technologists in Maryland. You will do a deep-dive with industry leaders and radiology professionals from across the state, with an eye on viable short- and long-term solutions.”

The company also operates in Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, New Jersey, New York and Texas, and Bathurst sees opportunity to explore similar collaborations elsewhere. 

“There are certainly opportunities in all of those states,” she told Radiology Business. “I live in Maryland and that is really where this all started. We have some legislators who have shown interest in the field, and I think it was just a great place to start. So, we'll go from there for sure. I’m really, really excited. Maryland's a great place to begin.” 

The summit follows a recent report from the American Society of Radiologic Technologists, American Registry of Radiologic Technologists and Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology. These organizations recently fielded a survey of 8,701 individual in the profession. 

Over 16% of respondents said they had changed jobs in the past year, and 68% of this segment had resigned. Common reasons included leaving due to burnout (25%), seeking better pay elsewhere (24%), problems with management (24%), or finding more desirable hours (21%). About 70% of those surveyed said they had experienced turnover among tech staff in their organization over the past year. On average, about five full-time equivalent techs departed from each respondents’ department in the past 12 months. Leaving for another facility (81%), burnout (35%), retirement (21%), family issues (16%), or COVID-related policies (12%) were common reasons. Another recent ASRT survey found that vacancies across the profession had hit historic highs, including 18% in radiography.