Mobile Imaging Staffing Shortages a Global Issue
UK-based mobile imaging provider Direct Imaging is advertising nationwide for senior CT and MRI radiographers. This recruitment effort highlights that the acute need for skilled imaging technologists to support mobile service lines is a global challenge, mirroring staffing shortages seen in the U.S.
- The radiographer shortage is quantifiable and worsening; in the UK, the average vacancy rate was 12.8% in 2022, with a consultant shortfall of 33% projected to hit 44%. In the U.S., a 2025 survey by the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) reported an all-time high vacancy rate of 19.4% for CT technologists and 17.4% for MRI technologists. - The global mobile imaging market is expanding in response to these shortages and shifting patient demand, with a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 5.1-5.2%. This growth is driven by the need for more accessible care, particularly in home healthcare settings and underserved areas. - A major driver of outpatient imaging growth is the significant cost difference compared to hospital-based services, which is increasingly influencing patient choice and payor policies. In response, health systems are increasingly forming joint ventures with specialized imaging companies to build freestanding centers, aiming to retain patient volume that would otherwise be lost. - The 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) is set to negatively impact revenue for most facility-based diagnostic radiology by an estimated 2%, while freestanding, non-facility-based providers may see an increase. This continues a trend where diagnostic radiology has not seen a positive reimbursement adjustment from CMS in over a decade, further incentivizing the shift of services out of hospitals. - Projections show U.S. outpatient imaging volume growing 10-14% over the next decade, with PET, ultrasound, and CT expected to see the most significant increases. This demand is fueled by an aging population and the expansion of new treatments, such as Alzheimer's drugs, that require imaging for diagnosis and monitoring. - To mitigate staffing gaps and improve efficiency, adoption of AI in radiology is accelerating, with the FDA having cleared over 870 AI algorithms for medical imaging as of mid-2025. Companies like Viz.ai, which has 13 cleared algorithms for stroke and neurocritical care, are being deployed in hospitals to automate triage and speed up time to treatment.
