Safety First! The potential for adverse events is rising in the MR suite

The MR world is in a bit of a conundrum. Providers are ramping up scan volumes to make up for missed exams (and missed revenue) during the lockdown phase of the pandemic, yet the U.S. is currently experiencing a shortage of technologists.

If you do a search on the internet job board Indeed for MR technologist openings in the country, almost 4,000 positions will appear. The staffing shortage is so severe that some healthcare facilities are offering sign-on bonuses of up to $15,000 to attract experienced MR technologists.

Lisa Thornhill, a medical physicist at West Physics, a provider of diagnostic medical and health physics consulting and testing to healthcare organizations, and MR technologist at a level-one trauma center at a large hospital in Boston , is on the frontlines of this issue.