Supporting increased BMD demand without breaking your staff

java.util.GregorianCalendar[time=1777833000000,areFieldsSet=true,areAllFieldsSet=true,lenient=false,zone=sun.util.calendar.ZoneInfo[id="GMT+05:30",offset=19800000,dstSavings=0,useDaylight=false,transitions=0,lastRule=null],firstDayOfWeek=1,minimalDaysInFirstWeek=1,ERA=1,YEAR=2026,MONTH=4,WEEK_OF_YEAR=19,WEEK_OF_MONTH=2,DAY_OF_MONTH=4,DAY_OF_YEAR=124,DAY_OF_WEEK=2,DAY_OF_WEEK_IN_MONTH=1,AM_PM=0,HOUR=0,HOUR_OF_DAY=0,MINUTE=0,SECOND=0,MILLISECOND=0,ZONE_OFFSET=19800000,DST_OFFSET=0]

By 2050, the global population aged 60 and older is projected to reach 2.1 billion worldwide.¹

With aging comes increased fracture risk. One in three women and one in five men over age 50 will experience an osteoporotic fracture in their lifetime.²

This shift is already affecting imaging demand.

As the population ages and fragility fractures can be associated with significant morbidity, mortality, and healthcare utilization,³ the need for osteoporosis assessment is expected to grow.

At the same time, demand for radiologic technologists increases as experienced staff retire.^{4 5} Expanding access while protecting technologist capacity is becoming an important operational consideration.

At GE HealthCare, we recognize that systems must be designed not only for today’s volumes, but for the sustained need for osteoporosis assessment that lies ahead.

The growing osteoporosis burden

Osteoporosis progresses silently until a fracture occurs. Fragility fractures can be associated with significant morbidity, mortality, and healthcare utilization.³ Hip fractures are associated with substantial functional decline, and many patients do not regain their previous level of function or independence.⁶

Mortality rates following hip fracture are high, with one study finding 34.7% of patients dying within one year.⁷

As assessment expands, departments must ensure capacity keeps pace with clinical need.

Staffing pressures can limit access

Workforce strain continues across imaging. Employment demand for radiologic technologists is projected to grow, and replacement needs due to retirement remain significant.⁴ Broader healthcare workforce shortages continue to affect hospitals and health systems.⁵

When DXA staffing is limited, appointment availability narrows. Delays in assessment may contribute to delayed diagnosis and fracture risk management.³

Across organizations, leaders commonly focus on operational priorities such as expanding access, maintaining scan quality, and improving throughput. Small inefficiencies can become meaningful under sustained volume pressure. Workflow consistency can help.

Supporting efficiency in high-volume settings

In many markets, increasing headcount is difficult. Improving workflow efficiency becomes a more realistic lever.

When volumes rise and staffing remains flat, the performance of the DXA system itself can become increasingly important. Consistent acquisition, automated analysis, and standardized workflows can reduce manual steps, support reproducible BMD measurement, and minimize repeat scans.

Systems within GE HealthCare’s DXA portfolio, including Prodigy and Lunar iDXA, are designed with operational consistency in mind. For facilities working to scale osteoporosis assessment services, that consistency can help preserve both access and diagnostic precision.