UM Shore Regional Health Addresses CT Technologist Shortage
Elise Murray, CT student, and former CT trainees Sara Conrath and Caleb Hubbard.
When University of Maryland Shore Regional Health (UM SRH), a member organization of the University of Maryland Medical System, experienced a shortage of computed tomography (CT) technologists on the Eastern Shore, leadership got creative - designing a path to CT certification for SRH team members that includes technical on-site clinical training at SRH and academic instruction at schools such as Community College of Baltimore County, Johns Hopkins Schools of Medical Imaging or WOR-WIC Community College.
“Thanks to this new training program, we filled 14 open CT technologist positions,” said Penny Olivi, Director, Imaging Services, UM SRH. “We are very proud of this team effort to achieve 100% staffing. Creativity and hard work helped us create and sustain a structured, financially supported, on-the-job training program for our radiology technologists to earn an advanced certification as CT technologists.”
“There are no CT programs offered by community colleges on the shore, so it made sense to create our own training program to help us meet our staffing needs,” said Margo Abbas, Radiology Manager, UM SRH. “CT techs are vital members of our team. They are highly trained professionals who operate CT scanners, which produce detailed, cross-sectional images of the body's internal organs. These images are essential to physicians in diagnosing and monitoring medical conditions, including cancer, vascular disease and traumatic injury.”
The new program includes 480 hours of training time during 12 weeks, and requires an application process, an agreement to continue employment with UM SRH after the successful completion of training and registration with the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. Trainers are UM SRH registered CT techs who demonstrate a strong knowledge of the field and volunteer to work one-on-one with candidates for one month, accomplishing specific goals and milestone check-ins to ensure their trainee’s success.
“We are so grateful to those who have volunteered their time as clinical trainers - Caleb Hubbard, Nancy Knotts, Bill Schnaitman, Georgi Hill, Dawn Foster, Heather Queroli, Justin Bentley and Melissa Kuszmaul, our CT lead tech,” said Olivi.
“In addition to being an innovative way to try to fill Shore’s open CT positions, creating an internal training program has helped our team members advance professionally, increasing their engagement,” said Abbas.
“The new program allowed me to finally earn my CT certification,” said Brady Shortall, former CT student and current trainer. “I feel honored to pay it forward by now helping new candidates earn their certifications.”
“Our Imaging department truly demonstrated the innovative, creative problem-solving required in health care today,” said Ken Kozel, President and CEO, UM SRH. “The leadership team is thrilled to support already-employed team members in pursuing their CT certifications and advancing their careers.”
The shortage of CT techs involves a variety of factors, including state licensure requirements that deter out-of-state applicants from moving to the area for employment and the lack of clinical training programs in the region.
“Thanks to this new training program, we filled 14 open CT technologist positions,” said Penny Olivi, Director, Imaging Services, UM SRH. “We are very proud of this team effort to achieve 100% staffing. Creativity and hard work helped us create and sustain a structured, financially supported, on-the-job training program for our radiology technologists to earn an advanced certification as CT technologists.”
“There are no CT programs offered by community colleges on the shore, so it made sense to create our own training program to help us meet our staffing needs,” said Margo Abbas, Radiology Manager, UM SRH. “CT techs are vital members of our team. They are highly trained professionals who operate CT scanners, which produce detailed, cross-sectional images of the body's internal organs. These images are essential to physicians in diagnosing and monitoring medical conditions, including cancer, vascular disease and traumatic injury.”
The new program includes 480 hours of training time during 12 weeks, and requires an application process, an agreement to continue employment with UM SRH after the successful completion of training and registration with the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. Trainers are UM SRH registered CT techs who demonstrate a strong knowledge of the field and volunteer to work one-on-one with candidates for one month, accomplishing specific goals and milestone check-ins to ensure their trainee’s success.
“We are so grateful to those who have volunteered their time as clinical trainers - Caleb Hubbard, Nancy Knotts, Bill Schnaitman, Georgi Hill, Dawn Foster, Heather Queroli, Justin Bentley and Melissa Kuszmaul, our CT lead tech,” said Olivi.
“In addition to being an innovative way to try to fill Shore’s open CT positions, creating an internal training program has helped our team members advance professionally, increasing their engagement,” said Abbas.
“The new program allowed me to finally earn my CT certification,” said Brady Shortall, former CT student and current trainer. “I feel honored to pay it forward by now helping new candidates earn their certifications.”
“Our Imaging department truly demonstrated the innovative, creative problem-solving required in health care today,” said Ken Kozel, President and CEO, UM SRH. “The leadership team is thrilled to support already-employed team members in pursuing their CT certifications and advancing their careers.”
The shortage of CT techs involves a variety of factors, including state licensure requirements that deter out-of-state applicants from moving to the area for employment and the lack of clinical training programs in the region.