A 'very tough situation'—as Hawaii's radiologist shortage persists, imaging backlogs climb into the thousands
A shortage of qualified radiologists has hit the state of Hawaii hard, disrupting the care of thousands of patients.
Hawaii News Now is reporting that Queens Medical Center is facing a significant backlog of imaging exams that have yet to be read by a radiologist. Last week, the organization informed staff members that more than 8,000 images are currently pending review.
It is estimated that the Aloha state needs at least 10 more radiologists to keep up with demand. Hawaii has historically faced recruitment challenges beyond just radiology, though the shortage of radiologists is now creating a bottleneck effect on patient care as referring providers are awaiting imaging results to determine care plans.
“Whether it’s a primary care physician and internist or a surgeon, if they cannot get the results back or there’s a delay in getting the results then you can’t schedule the surgery or the treatment,” Hilton Raethel, president of the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, told local news outlets. “Unfortunately, it is a very tough situation that we’re in.”
Darlena Chadwick, Queen’s Health Systems chief operating officer, recently addressed the issue in a public statement.
“Like other healthcare organizations in Hawaii and across the United States, we are facing a shortage of radiologists,” Chadwick said. “We are seeing high volumes of diagnostic imaging requests which tends to be some of the sickest patients in our community. The care of our patients is our highest priority and we are working diligently every day to address any delays.”
Chadwick said that readers are currently prioritizing emergency cases and those for patients with upcoming appointments or surgeries. Though the hospital is actively recruiting radiologists, they are utilizing temporary hires and remote readers in the interim. Hospital leaders also indicated they are open to considering utilizing artificial intelligence to lessen the load on their current radiologists.
In addition to her background in journalism, Hannah also has patient-facing experience in clinical settings, having spent more than 12 years working as a registered rad tech. She began covering the medical imaging industry for Innovate Healthcare in 2021.