Date of Conferral

2-18-2026

Degree

Doctor of Healthcare Administration (D.H.A.)

School

Health Sciences

Advisor

Miriam Ross

Abstract

Hospitals and healthcare facilities in the United States continue to face persistent shortages of ancillary imaging technologists, creating significant challenges for hospital administrators. The purpose of this integrative review was to identify effective strategies for recruiting and retaining imaging staff in hospitals. The review question concerned what best practices and strategies healthcare administrators can use to improve the recruitment and retention of ancillary imaging staff. The theoretical frameworks for this research, strategic human resource development and Maslow’s theory of human motivation, provided a lens for understanding organizational enhancement and employee engagement, respectively. Following the application of inclusion and exclusion criteria, 80 articles for years 2020 to 2025 were subjected to full-text review. Of these, 55 articles were further excluded, leaving 25 articles for the final analysis using the John Hopkins evidence-based practice model. The resulting thematic analysis revealed six themes and 11 subthemes. The six main themes were preemptive workforce planning, financial incentives and competitive benefits, flexible work schedule, promotion of growth opportunities, organizational support, and physical environment. A few important subthemes were dynamic scheduling and workplace flexibility. The results were the basis for four recommendations to improve retention for ancillary imaging technologists: flexible work schedules, diverse educational opportunities, work environment improvements, and transformational leadership to increase employee engagement. Implementation of the recommendations may contribute to improved retention of imaging staff, which could subsequently enhance patient care and promote positive social change.

Download

Share

 
COinS