US Radiology Specialists is expanding its pipeline for attracting and retaining radiologic technologists, the Raleigh, North Carolina-based imaging group announced Tuesday.
Private equity-backed USRS plans to extend the reach of its Technologist Advancement Academy across all 180 of the practice’s imaging centers in 14 states. The company-sponsored program allows its techs to earn certification in additional imaging modalities, including MR, CT, ultrasound and mammography.
US Radiology Specialists said the move is in response to swelling demand for imaging exams and the employees who operate such equipment.
“As we continue to expand our network and patient volume increases, the need to recruit talented technologists who share our commitment to exceptional care also grows,” Jennifer Bibles, group president of operations, said June 13. “Technologists are at the heart of our patient experience and in high demand in almost every region, so we are committed to providing competitive compensation, an appealing working environment, and career advancement to attract the best and brightest team members across our network.”
Academy openings go to current team members seeking career advancement and additional pay, along with outside candidates who hold X-ray certifications and are interested in learning other modalities. US Radiology Specialists said its program employs a team of seasoned trainers, utilizing a “state of the art” imaging simulator.
The expansion comes as US Radiology Specialists faces “significant” growth in patient demand across its markets, particularly in outpatient locations. Amid rising volumes, providers also are grappling with soaring vacancy rates for techs and other positions, according to recent survey data from the American Society of Radiologic Technologists. Heavy workloads may be pushing some members of the profession to seek travel work as a first option, a separate survey from AMN Healthcare found.
“Demand continues to outpace training program graduations, and employers are seeing more attrition due to professional burnout,” USRS noted in its announcement. “With technologists playing a critical role in the patient care journey, addressing staffing shortages is a high priority for radiology practices and outpatient imaging centers.”
Marty Stempniak has covered healthcare since 2012, with his byline appearing in the American Hospital Association's member magazine, Modern Healthcare and McKnight's. Prior to that, he wrote about village government and local business for his hometown newspaper in Oak Park, Illinois. He won a Peter Lisagor and Gold EXCEL awards in 2017 for his coverage of the opioid epidemic.