High attrition

For years now, hospitals are struggling with shortages of technicians in Medical Imaging and Radiation Oncology. Recent research by NIDAP shows that many of these MIRO-technicians leave the field prematurely. The good news is that hospitals, together with educational institutions, can take action to address this.

When you break a bone and an X-ray is taken, it is done by a MIRO-technician. MIRO-technicians mainly work in hospitals in departments such as Radiology, Nuclear Medicine, and Radiotherapy. They operate equipment like MRI and CT scanners, and X-ray machines to create images for diagnoses. They also use radiotherapy equipment in the treatment of tumors.

The NIDAP-study

Commissioned by Inholland University of Applied Sciences, NIDAP conducted research into the added value of (and interest in) a professional master’s program for technicians (or technologists) in medical imaging and radiotherapy. NIDAP surveyed both managers and coordinators of relevant hospital departments, as well as alumni of Inholland’s educational programs in medical imaging and radiotherapy. Most of these alumni currently work in hospitals. Together, these studies provide a clear picture of developments in the field.

1 in 3 MIRO-technicians leave the field

The study reveals that there are shortages of MIRO-technicians. Many of them leave the profession: 1 in 3 alumni of the bachelor’s program for MIRO-technicians surveyed in the studies no longer work in the field. This is also recognized in practice: more than 42% of employed MIRO-technicians in the NIDAP study report a relatively high attrition among colleagues. At the same time the demand for medical imaging is growing: people live longer and have more complex health problems, often requiring multiple scans. Technology is also advancing: new equipment and techniques enable more types of treatment and increase patient demand. In short: demand is rising, yet it is becoming increasingly difficult to recruit and especially to retain enough MIRO-technicians.

Labor market shortages

Without change, the pressure on the different fields of medical imaging and radiotherapy will only continue to increase. About two-thirds of the department managers in the NIDAP study reported a growing need for MIRO-technicians, and over half of employed MIRO-technicians (53%) also observe increasing demand for new colleagues. 

Other sources confirm these developments. Both the journal De Cardioloog (2024) and the company KPMG (2024) recently wrote about labor shortages in medical imaging. In addition, the UWV’s labor marktet tension indicator has classified the profession group “laboratory technicians”, which includes “medical diagnostic and therapeutic laboratory technicians”, as “very tight” since 2019. 

The fact that many MIRO-technicians leave the profession prematurely makes it difficult to fill vacancies. As a result, workload for remaining staff is increasing, which will lead to even more MIRO-technicians leaving for other careers. One in five department managers is already noticing these shortages. On the work floor, the situation is felt even more strongly: 43% of employed MIRO-technicians report a current shortage of staff.  

Fortunately, the NIDAP research also highlights a clear solution that can help break this vicious cycle. 

Lack of development opportunities 

There are several reasons why MIRO-technicians choose to leave medical imaging. The article by De Cardioloog (2024) cites the demanding nature of the work and relatively low pay as reasons why some MIRO-technicians leave the profession prematurely. These two reasons for leaving the profession were also mentioned in the NIDAP study by respondents who are no longer working in the field. By far the most common reason for leaving however —mentioned by a striking 94% of these respondents— is the lack of development opportunities. 

This finding is confirmed by the HBO Monitor (an annual survey among recent graduates of universities of applied sciences): graduates of the bachelor’s program in Medical Imaging and Radiotherapy Techniques do find their first “real job” quickly (on average within 2–3 weeks, which is exceptionally fast), but only 50% believe the program provides good career opportunities, compared to 67% of all graduates in health and welfare bachelor’s programs in general. Both MIRO-technicians and their managers indicated in the studies that the more ambitious professionals often eventually leave for another field. 

To prevent MIRO-technicians from leaving the field prematurely, they should be offered opportunities to further develop themselves, for example through training and education. It is also important that this development can translate into salary progression and more varied work. Providing meaningful development opportunities would directly help reduce attrition and thereby contribute to safeguarding the availability of healthcare.