Solutions Added to Help Mitigate Delay in Imaging Test Results

MIDLAND, Mich. – A nationwide shortage of radiologists reported earlier this year by the American College of Radiology is hitting close to home as MyMichigan Health patients continue to see delays in their imaging results. The Midland-based health system continues to work on solutions to help decrease wait times and mitigate the delay as quickly as possible.

“We share in the concerns of our patients. They now and forever will be deserving of excellence in the health care they receive by us and the delays they have and are experiencing are simply unacceptable,” Lydia Watson, M.D., president and CEO, MyMichigan Health. “Our leadership teams have been working around the clock to provide solutions and alternatives that will allow us to turn these wait times around and give our patients what they came to us for – results. We will not stop working on the issue until it is resolved.”

To help streamline the imaging process, MyMichigan has added three radiologists to read for MyMichigan, with a priority on oncology patient’s CT, MRI and PET tests. A fourth radiologist will be added soon. An additional provider has been assigned to read bone density tests. In addition, MyMichigan has established a process to send next appointment dates to its imaging partner, Advanced Radiology Services (ARS), to ensure reads are completed prior to the patients next appointment.

To also assist in these efforts, ARS is currently rightsizing their organization for the future to increase its capacity. Moreover, they will be adding nine new providers by November, as well as has mandated more shifts to its radiologists to assist in catching up on the imaging results backlog.

“We know our patients are frustrated. They should be,” said Dr. Watson. “While these solutions are necessary, we know it’s also critical to improve efficiency across the board and this too remains a top priority. Bottomline, timely access to results has a direct impact on patient care. The delays are inadmissible and have caused added stress to our patients and their families. We are committed to improving our imaging services and will continue to keep our patients informed of the progress of their test results.”

MyMichigan Health, a non-profit health system headquartered in Midland, Michigan, is a leader in providing award-winning, high-quality care to the 25 counties it serves. With Medical Centers in Alma, Alpena, Clare, Gladwin, Midland, Mt. Pleasant, Sault Ste. Marie and West Branch, MyMichigan also has affiliations with Medical Centers in St. Ignace* and Mackinac Island.*. MyMichigan Health provides a full continuum of care across a wide array of settings, including urgent care centers, home health, virtual care, as well as medical offices in more than 80 specialties and subspecialties including cardiology, family medicine, hematology/oncology, neurosciences, orthopedics, pediatrics, vascular surgery, and more. MyMichigan Health demonstrates its commitment to the future of medicine by partnering with leading institutions to offer medical education programs that train medical students, physicians, nurse practitioner and physician assistant students, nursing students and other clinical experts for our region. Recognized by Forbes in 2022 and 2023 as one of ‘America’s Best Employers by State,’ MyMichigan is a major employer in all of the areas it serves. In fact, its more than 10,600 employees, volunteers, health care providers and other personnel work together to create healthy communities through solutions designed to meet the ever-changing needs of the 981,000 residents in the health system’s 25 counties served. In fiscal year 2023, MyMichigan Health provided more than $128 million in community benefits, as well as supported its patients and families with new equipment, services and programs with funds raised by the MyMichigan Health Foundation.

*Not affiliated with the University of Michigan Health System.