The challenge

Over the last five years, workforce recruitment and retention has been an all-too-common challenge. While much of workforce research has focused on nursing, these challenges impact many care roles across healthcare systems. In particular, health systems have faced obstacles in finding and keeping radiologic technologists (rad techs).

Some of the root causes for the rad tech shortage resemble nursing, such as widespread workforce burnout. But health system imaging departments also face singular challenges, such as competition for staff from freestanding imaging centers and a rising demand for imaging services. In response, some departments have responded by developing education and training programs that double as recruitment strategies.