When you break a bone, you’re sent to a specialist who takes a scan of the afflicted area using imaging MRI. From there, your primary doctor can pass along the report that you have, in fact, broken a bone and let you know the nature of the break. Similarly, if your doctor suspects your reported symptoms sound like a cancerous tumor, he may refer you to further testing. Medical imaging and diagnostic radiology are such important parts of assessing and diagnosing a person’s internal situation. Given the tens of thousands of Americans who go in for testing each year, it seems the future of radiology is bright. But what if there are not enough radiology specialists to perform and interpret these highly skilled tests?
There are several reasons why analysts worry there may not be enough specialists to perform MRI scans in the future. First, more and more radiology experts are reaching retirement age. The American College of Radiology reports that there were 6,500 retirees in 2007, 5,870 retirees in 2004 and 5,100 retirees in 2000. Statistically, radiologists retire two years later than most other professions, but even so, the numbers are decreasing. Since it takes 6-7 years to obtain radiology degree, these vacancies are difficult to fill.
Job vacancies are another way the American College of Radiology tracks the imaging MRI outlook. In 2007, they gauged the job market to be “intermediate” because it was easy to fill basic vacancies, but it was harder to fill more desirable, high-level positions like interventional radiology and breast imaging specialists. Perhaps downsizing affects even the medical industry, with 0.72 jobs for each job seeker in 2007, compared to 1.1 in 2003 and 1.2 in 2006. It seems that some retirees are coming back to the field as specialists, which prevents many young, aspiring radiology professionals from moving up and causes some professionals to move into other sectors of health care, where advancement and top earnings are more likely.
The future of imaging MRI will require some technological advances and system upgrades. Currently, the equipment is very large to install and very expensive to use. Some say there will be smaller, more convenient hand-held devices, which will make it easier to examine a patient’s leg, arm or other body part, without having to slide them into a large magnet machine. This will also cut back on the claustrophobia people often feel during their radiology treatments. Smaller technology makes it easier for each hospital and doctor’s office to offer these tests right on-site, even though some of the results will need to be interpreted off-site by trained professionals. Some of the tests — like PET and CT scans — may be combined into one machine, along with updated computer software, to enable the best possible image.
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