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Staffing Survey Results
The ADVANCE 2012 Staffing Survey finds commitment to excellent care in the midst of economic woes.
Compiled by Judi Biederman
Posted on:
September 16, 2012
Radiologic technologists are echoing frustrations resounding across the U.S. workforce: The job market is tight and those that still have jobs are being asked to do more with less.
There are fewer jobs, fewer hours and freezes on hiring and raises, according to more than 200 rad techs and therapists who responded to the ADVANCE 2012 Staffing Survey conducted from July 16 to August 17, via an online Zarca questionnaire. (Download results tables here.) And it doesn't look like things are going to get better anytime soon.
The majority of respondents (67%) were employed at hospitals, with other employment settings including freestanding imaging/outpatient/surgical centers, physician office/clinics, radiation oncology/cancer centers, cardiac cath labs, mobile units, an independent post-processing laboratory, urgent care/occupational health center, physician office/ clinic owned by hospital, 24-hour ED with outpatient X-ray, intermediate care center, and a university. Responses came from techs and therapists employed in metropolitan, suburban and rural facilities in all regions of the U.S., serving all modalities.
Several of our questions generated responses that indicate a flat employment scene, with 46% reporting the number of rad techs in their facility was the same as a year ago and 42% saying the number had decreased in the last year. Nearly 57% felt their facility was understaffed.
"Hiring freeze for the last year" was the succinct comment from a rad tech in a suburban hospital in the Pacific region, while the clinic manager of a South Central outpatient center reported, "We haven't hired any techs for three years."
Others said attrition, layoffs and decreased hours were depleting departmental staffs to the point that many are spread thin. "They have decreased our staff by one half this past year," said an MRI tech from a South Central hospital, adding, "This has put a lot of pressure on us to do more with less people. Everyone is stressed out. Morale is low." A CT team leader from a metropolitan hospital in the Southeast said that her facility shares staff with other departments but that it still seems like there isn't enough staff to cover for FMLA and vacations. A rad tech from a rural hospital in the Northeast described, "After layoffs we were left with no PRNs and a skeleton crew. It's worse now due to injuries, surgeries, vacation and comp days. We also cover weekends and sometimes are not given our comp day."
Many reported that short staffing has created the need to take on an increased workload but that more work has not translated into more money. A radiography/X-ray manager from a metropolitan physician's office in the Southeast said his compensation did not increase after taking on additional responsibilities over the last year, while a Northeastern rad tech described the situation at her rural hospital: "Due to secretarial layoffs, techs have to help cover the front desk to assist remaining secretarial staff, leaving the floor short. Most days there is only one tech scheduled to work the floor; help is supposed to come from "the core" (any tech from any modality who doesn't have a patient of their own) but it does not often work that way."
 Decreased hours also are taking a bite out of paychecks. "Everyone's hours have been cut down and the expansion planned since 2008 hasn't started," said an ultrasound team lead from a rural physician office/clinic in the Northeast. A staff sonographer from a metro freestanding imaging center was even more specific: "They have cut our full time hours to just 32 per week and we were told no more raises...ever. They make us go home if we are slow, having to use our PTO hours." She, along with others, reported that benefits also were being reduced.
In the midst of their own economic pressures, however, many respondents worried that short staffing at their facilities would affect patient care and reported that remaining staff were determined to retain quality service in the face of decisions made for business reasons. A CT tech from a North Central metro hospital said her facility was under new, non-clinical direction. "Staffing decisions are impacted by their inability to see the true picture of what it takes to complete an exam. It isn't just 'first image to PACS to the last image to PACS.' A lot of processes need to happen before you begin and end an exam."
Even more impressive than the dedication technologists and therapists bring to their jobs is that they still love what they do. Despite the pressures they are under, more than 60% reported being content or strongly content with their work. Many remain loyal to their profession because they like helping people but are keeping a practical eye on the future. "Overall, I am very satisfied with my job," described one. "It just seems the workload is increasing much faster than we can provide." And a rad tech from a Pacific suburban outpatient center summarizes her feelings by commenting, "Overall, it is a great job. But, like most places, we are asked to do more with less."
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