Sonographers, the skilled professionals responsible for performing ultrasound imaging, are at the heart of many healthcare diagnoses. Their expertise plays a critical role in patient care. However, the field of sonography is currently grappling with two major issues: a shortage of qualified sonographers and increasing levels of sonographer burnout. These challenges, if left unaddressed, could have significant impacts on efficiency, quality, and patient care.
Sonographer shortage
Is there a sonographer shortage? The answer is yes, and it’s one of the most critical challenges in medical imaging today. Demand for ultrasound services is rising faster than the supply of qualified professionals. According to the American Society of Radiologic Technologists, sonographer vacancies in hospitals and clinics have steadily increased. Its 2023 Radiologic Sciences Staffing Survey revealed that national sonography vacancies jumped from 6.9% in 2021 to 16.7% in 2023.1 The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics also projects a 10% growth in diagnostic medical sonographer jobs between 2021 and 2031, far outpacing the average for most occupations.2 Yet, too few new professionals are entering the field.
This shortage leaves current sonographers stretched thin, handling more patients and working longer hours, potentially increasing their physical strain. The result is widespread sonographer burnout, understandably marked by emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and reduced personal accomplishment. A study from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center found that 75% of sonographers experience occupational burnout, and 64% scan in pain due to work-related musculoskeletal disorders.3
Sonographers speak up
In the e-book "Sonographer Pain Points," 150 U.S.-based sonographers shared their perspective on the current state of ultrasound. The findings provide more insight on sonographers’ day-to-day and highlight a growing appetite for digital ultrasound tools to improve workflows, reduce burnout, and boost collaboration.
Where to lean on digital ultrasound tools during a sonographer shortage
Organizations grappling with the current sonographer shortage and rising burnout rates can find a lifeline in GE HealthCare's Verisound™ Digital and AI Solutions. Verisound solutions improve workflow, reduce physical strain, and support sonographers in their daily tasks. Here are a few ways Verisound solutions empower sonographers.
1. Faster, easier post-exam documentation
Sonographers can spend up to five hours per day on non-scanning activities, including exam documentation.4 ViewPoint™ 6 can replace paper worksheets and manual data entry so sonographers can quickly generate accurate, customizable reports. Benchmarking shows digital exam documentation can be completed in under a minute versus more than five minutes with paper worksheets. For a department with five full time employees performing 10 exams a day, this can free up 20 hours of sonographer time per week.5 With the Quick Reports feature of ViewPoint 6, an organization can define templates for common findings to further speed up routine work. Standard sonographer worksheets also support the American College of Radiology TI-RADS™ and BI-RADS®, and are adaptable to an organization’s specific protocols.
2. Universal scanning protocols
The sonographer shortage means it is more likely to have junior or temporary sonographers performing exams which may impact accuracy and consistency. The combination of Verisound Fleet + Scan Assistant lets lead sonographers create custom scanning protocols and instantly roll them out to every connected ultrasound machine. This allows any sonographer to walk up to any ultrasound machine at any location and perform a scan using the same updated, standardized protocols. This solution also automates many steps in the scanning process, reducing the number of manual inputs required, enabling faster exams, and lowering the chance of errors. In some cases, the system's preset measurement packages may even eliminate the need for sonographers to type or click during exams, which can help prevent both errors and repetitive stress injuries. Lead sonographers can remotely spend time mentoring staff instead of traveling to every ultrasound machine to manually apply updates.
3. Remote collaboration and mentorship
The growing trend of less-experienced sonographers surpassing the number of seasoned practitioners creates a knowledge gap that must be addressed through technology. Digital Expert Connect, part of the Verisound portfolio, enables live, remote consultations and real-time collaboration between sonographers, supervisors, and radiologists, even when the more experienced staff are not on-site. It’s been referred to as “FaceTime® for ultrasound.” The solution securely shares a live feed of the exam to the collaborator so they can give the sonographer guidance and advice. This enables the department to provide an unprecedented level of coaching and support, even during a workforce shortage, which can boost sonographer confidence and engagement, and accelerates the learning curve for novice techs. Remote support for ultrasound aims to help minimize patient callbacks as sonographer questions can be answered in real time, improving scan quality and completeness of exams.
4. Real-time scan guidance at the point of care
Empowering clinicians at the bedside to accurately and confidently perform ultrasound exams is another way to lessen the burden on in-demand sonographers. By integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into point-of-care scanning, clinicians of all experience levels can perform high-quality ultrasound exams with greater ease and efficiency. Caption GuidanceTM, Verisound’s AI-driven guidance system, available on Vscan Air™ SL and the Venue™ family of ultrasound devices, provides real-time recommendations during scanning. This feature helps users capture optimal images by offering instant feedback and suggestions on probe positioning and scan quality. As a result, clinicians can significantly reduce the chances of suboptimal scans, supporting diagnostic accuracy and enhancing workflow efficiency at the bedside.
Thrive, don’t just survive, during a sonographer shortage
In an era where the demand for sonography services continues to rise while the workforce faces significant shortages and burnout, leveraging digital and AI-powered tools like GE HealthCare's Verisound solutions can be a game changer. By enhancing workflow efficiency, reducing physical strain, and enabling real-time collaboration, these innovations not only support sonographers in their daily tasks but can also help departments maintain high standards, even amidst staffing challenges.
Learn more about how Verisound Digital and AI Solutions can strengthen your ultrasound department efficiency.
REFERENCES:
1.) “White Paper From the 2024 Consensus Committee on the Future of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy,” American Society of Radiologic Technologists, last modified October 30, 2024 https://www.asrt.org/docs/default-source/research/whitepapers/2024-consensus-committee-on-the-future-of-medical-imaging-and-radiation-therapy.pdf?sfvrsn=1f869819_12
2.) “Occupational Outlook Handbook, Diagnostic Medical Sonographers and Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians,” Bureau of Labor Statistics,” U.S. Department of Labor, last modified October 30, 2024 https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/diagnostic-medical-sonographers.htm
3.) Jennifer E. Bagley et al., “Exploring the Relationship Between Sonographers’ Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders and Occupational Burnout,” Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography 40 no. 2 (2024): 156–163.
4.) Kaitlin Hoffman et al., “Analysis of Lost Sonographer Productivity in a University Hospital Vascular Laboratory,” The Journal for Vascular Ultrasound 39 no. 2 (2015):78–80.
5.) An internal, side-by-side comparison study was performed by GE HealthCare. Five sonographers completed sonographer worksheets manually and with ViewPoint 6 for five exam types; Abdomen, Carotid, Lower Extremity Arterial, Pelvic, and Thyroid. Both manual and digital sonographer worksheets required the same types and number of sonographer inputs. The average time saved by utilizing ViewPoint 6 for digital sonographer worksheets was 4 minutes and 42 seconds per exam. Assuming 10 exams performed by a sonographer per day. Assuming a staff of 5 FTE employees each performing 10 exams a day. Illustrative example. Actual results will vary based on your institution’s circumstances.
Products mentioned may not be available in all countries. Please check with your local GE HealthCare representative for details.
Caption Guidance, Venue, Verisound, and Vscan are trademarks of GE HealthCare. BI-RADS ATLAS and TI-RADS are trademarks of the American College of Radiology. Facetime is a trademark of Apple Inc.
Venue family consists of Venue, Venue Go, Venue Fit, and Venue Sprint.
©2024 GE HealthCare. GE is a trademark of General Electric Company used under trademark license.
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