X-Rays Are a Defining Urgent Care Attribute, but Times May Call for a Creative Approach

Of the many answers to the question What sets urgent care centers apart from retail clinics?, the ability to offer x-rays on site is high on the list. Some might call it one of urgent care’s distinguishing characteristics. It seems like the ability to continue doing so gets more challenging by the day, though. As JUCM readers know, one concern is a shortage of qualified radiologic technologists. And with the rapid growth of the industry, equipping newly constructed and repurposed spaces can be difficult in terms of both municipal regulation and obtaining and placing devices strategically. At first glance it may seem like buying portable units would be both less expensive and offer greater flexibility; emergency rooms use them freely, after all. However, for starters, some states don’t allow portable x-ray use except under very specific conditions (such as medical necessity when there is no reasonable access to a fixed unit), and more states are changing their regulations all the time. Further, one knock on portable x-ray units has been that they’re very low-powered (3 KW output vs 30- to 40 KW output for a permanent unit), which means longer exposures are necessary and difficulty in use with larger patients. Even if the power factor becomes less of an issue as new technologies evolve, expense and regulation are likely to remain daunting. One thing that is under your direct control is ensuring you have adequate staff to provide x-ray services. A pair of articles in the JUCM archive, Who Can Take X-Rays in an Urgent Care Center? and Benefits of Utilizing Limited-Scope X-Ray Techs in the Urgent Care Setting, may be of help.