More MRI techs needed to combat wait times as burnout figures rise, association says

The association representing medical radiation technologists says more MRI technologists are needed in the province to combat wait times. 

In January the median wait time for an MRI at three Winnipeg hospitals was 30 or more weeks, according to data from the province's wait time dashboard.

Dayna McTaggart, the provincial manager for the Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists (CAMRT), calls the numbers startling. 

"It's a lot of pressure put on the MRTs because we feel a sense of responsibility for it," McTaggart said.

"We don't want patients to wait longer than they have to. We're contributing to the burnout of ourselves by wanting the best for our patients and continuing to take overtime shifts in order to fill [voluntary] night shifts … to get patients the scan they need quicker." 

The province's wait time dashboard shows in January of this year people needing an MRI were looking at a median wait time of:

• 35 weeks at the Grace Hospital.
• 37 weeks at Health Sciences Centre.
• 30 weeks at the Children's Hospital. 

The dashboard currently lists the median wait time for 2024 at 20 weeks. 

Last year, the median figure was 34 weeks at the Grace Hospital, 24 weeks at the Children's Hospital and 23 at HSC, according to the dashboard.

A spokesperson with Shared Health — the organization overseeing health-care delivery in the province — said there's been a more than 25 per cent increase since the pandemic in the number of requests for MRIs deemed urgent by clinicians. While patients with urgent concerns are prioritized, the statement said, those with less serious concerns have to wait longer. 

The 90th percentile wait time for elective outpatient MRIs was approximately 40 weeks as of late January, the Shared Health spokesperson said. 

The 90th percentile measure means nine out of 10 patients had a shorter wait time, while one in 10 waited longer.

McTaggart also said the latest CAMRT-MB numbers suggest there are currently 107 MRI technologists certified in Manitoba, but not all with certification are currently working in that capacity. 

MRI is a second discipline, meaning MRTs need to be certified in either radiography, radiation therapy or nuclear medicine to upgrade their training to get more certification, McTaggart said, adding a lack of full-time positions might be deterring people from going through that process. 

"There's already a financial burden of taking on this additional education and then … there not being any job prospects when you're done is leading a lot of them to second guess if they even want to go ahead with it." 

In its statement, Shared Health said there are currently about 71 full-time equivalent MRI technologists working in the province, with about three full-time vacancies expected to be filled in the coming weeks. 

Share Health said that according to the 2019-20 Canadian Medical Imaging Inventory, Manitoba had the highest number of MRI technologists per million population at 48.8, compared with the national average of 19.7.

Better recruitment and retention needed 

McTaggart said she met with provincial Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara in February, and the association also submitted a written proposal, which she hopes is reflected in Manitoba's upcoming budget. 

Included in the proposal is a request for more money for recruitment and retention of MRTs, along with more investment into positions and education in rural areas of the province, she said.

A news release from CAMRT also said data collected by the association suggest 70 per cent of MRTs in the province are showing signs of burnout ,and another recent survey showed 50 per cent of technologists in Manitoba were considering leaving their job for reasons other than retirement. 

"We really feel like it's important to look at recruitment and retention specific in Manitoba when we have other jurisdictions that are really recruiting hard, offering financial incentives for MRT's to go there" she said. 

The NDP pledged to add an MRI machine to the Thompson hospital during last year's election campaign. 

In a statement to CBC News Thursday, the health minister said the government knows it can be difficult for Manitobans to wait for diagnostics and it has been focusing on recruiting and retaining health-care workers in all sectors, while building capacity throughout the system.

The statement said also said when the NDP's budget is tabled Tuesday it will reflect its commitment to health care.