The RT Staffing Shortage: Understanding the Causes and Professional and Technological Solutions

Heidi Veillette, BSc, RT(R)(MR)*

^*Medical Writer, Veillette Communications; Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Address correspondence to: Heidi@VeilletteCommunications.com

Disclosure statement: The author reports having no significant financial or advisory relationships with corporate organizations related to this activity.

ABSTRACT

Radiologic technologists (RTs) are instrumental in the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up imaging of patients with various diseases and health conditions. These specially trained medical professionals provide high-quality patient care while operating advanced imaging equipment. However, in recent years, the number of job vacancies for RT positions has been steadily increasing while the demand for imaging continues to rise. The current job vacancy rate for radiographers in the United States is at an all-time high of 18%, reflecting similar trends in other countries. The global RT shortage will significantly impact patients who may experience longer wait times, delayed diagnoses, and the potential for a lower quality of care from overworked RTs. Addressing this issue is complex and will require coordinated efforts from educators, healthcare organizations, professional associations, and RTs to implement effective staffing and technological solutions.

This Continuing Education (CE) course will review the landscape of the current RT shortage, including common contributing factors such as low student enrollment, high numbers of RTs leaving the field, and understaffing caused by RT burnout and attrition. The potential implications of this shortage regarding patient care will also be explored. This CE course will also cover potential solutions for addressing this shortage including recruitment and retention strategies, promoting a healthy work-life balance, and encouraging professional development opportunities. Finally, the use of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and remote scanning to alleviate workloads will be discussed.