Remote Scanning for MRI

While remote scanning technology is not necessarily new, its application is becoming more advanced and its use more common across institutions of all sizes.

The availability of certified radiology technologists in today’s market often does not meet the demand for imaging studies—and with demand expected to increase 9% annually, the problem will likely intensify.  A shortage of technologists will challenge imaging services providers to offer access to critical diagnostic tools, which may lead to delays in patient care, overextended staff resources, and lost revenue. This is particularly notable with MRI services. 

In response to these challenges, vendors are continuing to enhance their technological and staffing support offerings, with several MRI vendors actively promoting innovative remote scanning services. 

ECG interviewed senior healthcare leaders from a mix of rural hospitals, health networks, and academic medical centers (AMCs) to understand the awareness of, and interest in, remote scanning; perceived and realized merits of the service; and key decision-making considerations related to implementation. 30% of interview participants were already using remote scanning in some capacity.

ECG then coordinated a virtual retreat that included a leading vendor of remote scanning services to further discuss the technology’s value proposition in different environments. This yielded insightful discussion about remote scanning’s ability to support access to care; enhance productivity; and support staff engagement, development, and workflow.

Those interviewed specifically noted that remote scanning technology could serve as a foundation for an overall care model transformation or be used to address staffing challenges.

Additionally, several consistent themes emerged related to primary challenges in MRI today, potential benefits of remote scanning, and barriers to adoption. All of these should be considered by organizations as they assess how remote scanning may best optimize their unique MRI services’ operational needs and strategic goals.

Primary Challenges for Health Systems

• Difficulty in hiring and retaining staff 
• Competitive sign-on bonuses 
• High frequency of incidental overtime and call-back shifts 
• Limited candidates with specialized skill sets 
• Inability to staff all shifts 
• Pressure to improve patient throughput and length of stay 
• Failure to provide consistent and timely access to outpatient services

Benefits of Implementation

• Improved access and capacity for general and specialty scans 
• Increased outpatient volumes and margin 
• Reduced length of stay 
• Enhanced staff engagement and development 
• Reduced overtime expenditures

Barriers to Adoption

• Concerns about a perceived reduction in the quality of care and patient safety 
• The financial viability of the program (e.g., return on investment) 
• Regulatory compliance

Key Considerations for Adopting Remote Scanning

As organizations look for new and impactful ways to combat staffing and access challenges, they should explore remote scanning solutions for MRI. Specifically, organizations must evaluate key considerations related to barriers to adoption, overall implementation challenges, and realistic ROI.

Value Proposition

• How many MRI machines does my facility have? 
• Is my MRI service operating at full capacity? If not, what are the root causes of this? 
• If my organization could staff another shift, would there be the patient demand to fill it? 
• Does my organization incur high overtime expenditures or shift bonuses for MRI?

MRI-Related Challenges

• Does my organization have difficulty recruiting MRI technologists? 
• Does my organization have to restrict MRI schedules due to staffing levels? 
• Are my technologists highly skilled and able to conduct complex scans?

Risk Tolerance

• Is my organization comfortable with remote MRI scanning?
• What kind of staffing model would my organization use if remote scanning was implemented? 
• If the remote scanner temporarily loses connectivity, is my organization comfortable with on-site individuals handling the patient and patient questions?

Strategic Impact

• Is imaging, and specifically MRI, an important part of my organization’s service offering to patients? 
• Does my organization seek to differentiate itself from competitors in the market? 
• Does my organization have strategic plans for MRI services? 
• Is my organization interested in extending MRI services to other hospitals?