It's no secret that nurses are in short supply at hospitals across America. According to the American Hospital Association (AHA), registered nurses (RNs) account for 75% of unfilled hospital positions nationally. But nurses are far from the only healthcare workers currently in demand. The AHA also reports that imaging technicians -- those who perform procedures such as X-rays, ultrasounds and MRIs -- actually have the highest mean vacancy rate (15.3%) of any healthcare position. In 2001, 21% of hospitals reported severe shortages (a vacancy rate of 20% or more), and 42% reported an increase in imaging technician vacancies since 1999. Business Week's May 20 issue reported that in order to hold on to coveted ultrasound and X-ray technicians, New York Presbyterian Hospital has raised their pay twice in the past year, a total of 7% on top of annual merit-pay increases.
As with the nursing shortage, the scarcity of imaging technicians raises the question of whether patient satisfaction with hospital radiology services has been affected as a result of such possible consequences as inexperienced staff or longer wait times.
As with nursing care and compassion, Gallup's patient satisfaction/loyalty data do not show a change in satisfaction with radiology services over the past three years, for either inpatient or emergency departments.
Key Points
Unlike the case with nursing care, radiology outcomes are influenced more by technology than by interpersonal relations. Improvements in ultrasound and X-ray equipment facilitate staff members' ability to provide better pictures, often at an increased speed. These improvements benefit patients and may offset the difficulties caused by staffing shortages, at least for the time being.