Radiology workforce shortage hits Hawaii hospitals with thousands of patient scans in the queue

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Hawaii hospitals are feeling the effects of a worldwide radiology shortage.

Thousands of CT scans, PET scans, MRIs and other critical tests are waiting in the queue.

The Queen’s Medical Center is reporting a significant backlog of images needing to be reviewed by a radiologist.

Radiologists are medical doctors who interpret images crucial to diagnose and treat illnesses.

Dr. Kelley Withy, professor of Family Medicine and Community Health at the University of Hawaii’s John A. Burns School of Medicine, said radiology covers so many different kinds of tests, it’s difficult to more forward with care without a doctor to interpret the results.

“It’s the best way for us to see inside the body,” Withy said.

Hilton Raethel, president of the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, said the shortage in radiologists could delay procedures.

“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,” Raethel said. “Unfortunately, it is a very tough situation that we’re in.”

JABSOM estimated a shortage of 10 radiologists in 2024 for the state but Withy said that has likely climbed.

The Queen’s Medical Center notified staff last week that 8,000 images are pending review.

In a statement, Darlena Chadwick, Queen’s Health Systems chief operating officer, said, “Like other health care organizations in Hawaii and across the United States, we are facing a shortage of radiologists.”

Chadwick continued, “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 radiologists are prioritizing emergency cases and for those patients with an upcoming appointment or an upcoming surgery.

To ease the shortage, Chadwick said they are actively recruiting radiologists and hiring temporary ones to help fill gaps.

Radiologists can read scans virtually and hospitals throughout the world have now started taking advantage of remote radiologists.

“You send your images to another part of the country for a qualified person to read them,” Raethel said.

Artificial intelligence is also becoming part of the conversation.

For example, AI can do an initial check for a patient who gets annual scan to point out any change. Then a human checks the work.

“They’ve compared AI to human readings,” said Withy. “So this is an area that maybe we need to embrace.”

It’s not just a shortage of the doctors. Radiologic Technologist, who administer the tests and ensure the quality of the images, are also in demand.

The Healthcare Association of Hawaii estimated a shortage of 111 in 2024, up more than 30% from 2022.

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