What is the Future of Imaging MRI?

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Imaging MRI is an important part of diagnosing disease, preparing patients for surgery, assessing injury and prescribing treatment. Without medical imaging, physicians and surgeons would have no choice but to open patients up to get a glimpse of what’s troubling their bodies. Diagnostic radiology tests like the MRI scan, CT scan, PET scan and x-rays enable doctors to make better judgment calls and see the extent of the damage done. These scans reveal not only bone fractures and breaks, but also vein blockages, blood vessel leakage, tumors and organ malfunction. Yet there is some fear that fewer qualified specialists and radiology professionals may put the availability of these procedures in jeopardy.

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.

Recently imaging MRI and other imaging tests were under fire by the Obama administration. In the proposed plan, Medicare recipients would need to have their radiology services approved by a “benefit manager” before their imaging will be paid for. This measure would save 0 million over a decade, the president said, which will help him in expanding health care coverage to more Americans. Even so, the news comes as an outrage to many who work in the field. There is much money to be made in radiology ultrasound, MRI, CT and X-ray technology. The future of this science may very well depend upon future legislation and funding accessibility.

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