Rural radiology technician shortage motivates new technical college program in northeastern SD

A shortage of rural radiology technicians prompted the South Dakota Board of Technical Education to approve a new program Thursday for a technical college in the northeastern part of the state.

Radiology technicians conduct imaging exams such as X-rays, CT scans and MRIs.

Two South Dakota technical schools already have radiology technician programs: Mitchell Technical College and Western Dakota Technical College in Rapid City. The new two-year program will be at Lake Area Technical College in Watertown.

The presidents from Mitchell Tech and Western Dakota Tech collaborated with Lake Area Tech on its application and how it could fit into the technical education system.

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The new two-year Lake Area program fills a gap left when Presentation College in Aberdeen closed its radiology technician program in 2023. Northern State University in Aberdeen is also developing an associate degree program, though it remains in the planning stages.

Health care representatives urged the board to approve the program, citing shortages expected to grow as health care demand rises and experienced technicians retire.

Without qualified imaging staff, timely diagnosis and treatment become difficult — “and at times impossible,” said Natalie Gauer, administrator and CEO of Milbank Area Hospital Avera. 

Radiology technician positions at the hospital have remained vacant for years, Gauer added, which stresses workers. The hospital contracts with a traveling radiology technician, which costs three times what a local staff member would. 

Josh Mages, imaging account manager at GE Healthcare in Watertown, said he regularly speaks with radiology managers across the state who are experiencing growing demand.

“When I come and talk to a customer about exam growth, we’re seeing 50% to 100%. So if you’re doing 100 CTs a month right now, in five years we’re going to expect you to do 200,” Mages said. “We’re going to need to add headcounts.”

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Some rural healthcare systems have begun training lab technicians to perform X-rays because they can’t find licensed radiology technicians, Mages said. While legal in South Dakota, he prefers professionally trained staff.

Prospective students increasingly want local options rather than relocating hours away, Gauer said — and even when they’re willing to move, programs at other colleges are sometimes full.

“I had a high school student approach us last year. She wanted to come back to our campus after training for rad tech, but she did not get into a program because they were full,” Gauer said. “She simply changed her major. So we will now have lost that opportunity of a greatly needed professional in our community.”

All board members present at the Thursday meeting voted in support of the new program.

Lake Area President Tiffany Sanderson plans to begin fundraising with businesses in the area to remodel a space on the campus for a simulation lab and classroom. The program will likely start in 2028.

“Even though the programs in the state and the tech college system have ramped up to help meet the demand,” Sanderson said, “there remains strong demand, especially in the northeast portion of the state in our rural communities.”