Rural hospital bolsters CT services, cuts costs with remote radiologic technologists

A rural hospital in Montana is bolstering CT services while cutting costs with the help of a new program.

Dahl Memorial Healthcare, Ekalaka, Montana, is tapping technology that lets off-site, remote techs securely connect with scanners on its campus. With the help of other hospital personnel, the critical access hospital can now offer computed tomography for a broader range of hours including evenings and weekends without paying for “costly” temps, the Ekalaka Eagle reported Saturday. 

"Hiring traveling CT techs for short-term staffing is not only expensive, but it limits flexibility," hospital CEO Darrell Messersmith said, according to the newspaper. "With this technology … we can keep imaging services local, available and cost-effective while still ensuring patients get the high-quality diagnostic care they need."

Dahl Memorial reportedly is offering the new program with the help of GE HealthCare’s nCommand Lite platform and Remote Rad Tech. The latter is a Miami-based company that specializes in bringing added technologist support to rural hospitals. Remote Rad Tech is licensed in Montana, with its techs able to work alongside other on-site professionals. While an off-site tech controls the scanner, other licensed nurses or advanced practice providers help to start IVs and monitor vitals. 

“We believe Carter County residents shouldn't have to drive hours for routine diagnostics. Remote diagnostics bring that vision closer to reality,” Messersmith added. 

Dahl Memorial also reportedly plans to expand remote imaging into ultrasound with the help of another vendor. Its service allows credentialed sonographers elsewhere to perform scans using remote controls. Currently, the technology is being piloted by rural providers across the country, the newspaper noted. 

The Montana hospital’s new service offering comes after the American College of Radiology and American Society of Radiologic Technologists both recently released new statements on remote scans. Both believe hospitals and imaging centers still need to have a rad tech and other licensed professional on-site to perform CT and MRI exams, in case patients experience an adverse reaction to imaging contrast.

Consulting firm Vizient recently highlighted remote scanning as one of its trends to watch, amid persistent staffing shortages across the specialty. Despite growing interest, only around 7% of health systems have implemented such technology into clinical practice, the report said.