Ultrasound technologist shortage causes major delays

Health PEI only has half the compliment of technologists it should, but says 3 are recruited

A shortage of ultrasound technologists has led to long delays for some people requiring the tests.

Health PEI should have about 10 technologists, but only half of those positions are filled.

“I wish we had enough staff that we could book things so we could meet our target wait times, but right now we don’t.” -Theresa Callaghan

“It means that we aren’t able to perform exams. We are getting a lot of requests in that we have not been able to schedule yet,” said Theresa Callaghan, the province’s director of diagnostic imaging.

Last week, Health PEI returned stacks of requests for ultrasounds to family doctors.

Almost 2,000 were put on hold.

technologists will do all urgent and emergency cases, breast exams and prenatal tests, but officials say those classified as less-urgent will have to wait.

“I wish we had enough staff that we could book things so we could meet our target wait times, but right now we don’t,” said Callaghan.