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Recently, the Rochester Regional Health system in New York discontinued on-site x-ray services at 2 urgent care centers and reallocated those radiology technologists (RTs) to other urgent cares in the system that have higher patient demand, according to a local news site. Such optimization strategies could become more common in urgent care, given the state-specific requirements for radiology staff and the RT shortages across the nation. The reallocations of staff and discontinuations of x-ray services also leave communities with fewer choices for care.
“While 2 local urgent care centers that cease offering x-ray doesn’t seem like a national trend, the concern is thematic,” says Alan A. Ayers, MBA, MAcc, President of Urgent Care Consultants and Senior Editor of JUCM. “Due to 1980s-era state regulations that restrict who can capture an image using modern digital equipment, 2 more urgent care centers have now fallen away from industry standards. New York is one of the most restrictive states in the country, in that certified radiologic technologists are authorized to take x-rays, with no limited-scope pathway for other clinicians such as physician assistants or nurse practitioners. This is something the Northeast Regional Urgent Care Association is lobbying for in State Assembly Bill A2685A and Senate Bill S684A for the 2025–2026 legislative session.”
50 State Framework: Because states drive the regulatory environment for radiology staffing and supervision, urgent care organizations need to create bespoke staffing strategies across their enterprises. In all, 7 states require a fully credentialed RTs for x-ray services without exception: Connecticut, Hawaii, Indiana, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and West Virginia. See more in this exclusive feature online ahead of print from JUCM: Who Can Take X-Rays in an Urgent Care Center: A 50-State Framework