Dr. Anand Lalaji Urges Investment in Radiology Tech to Transform Local Healthcare

Atlanta, Georgia May 12, 2025 (Issuewire.com) Dr. Anand P. Lalaji, CEO of The Radiology Group and a board-certified expert in musculoskeletal imaging, is raising awareness about the urgent need for local hospitals, health systems, and clinics to invest in modern radiology technology. According to Dr. Lalaji, outdated equipment and limited access to advanced diagnostics are holding back healthcare outcomesespecially in underserved communities.

Were living in a time when technology can detect disease earlier, faster, and with greater precision than ever before, Dr. Lalaji said. But too many hospitals are still using equipment thats 1015 years old. Thats not just inefficientits dangerous.

The Case for Upgrading Diagnostic Infrastructure

Medical imaging plays a role in more than 75% of clinical diagnoses, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Yet many local health providers in both urban and rural areas struggle with aging machines, slow transmission of images, and limited staff trained in advanced interpretation.

A 2022 survey by the American College of Radiology found that over 40% of outpatient imaging centers in the U.S. reported delays due to outdated or insufficient imaging infrastructure. In the UK, NHS England has identified diagnostic imaging as one of the top five areas in need of technological investment to reduce wait times and improve outcomes.

If your CT scanner takes 10 minutes longer, or your images are blurry, that delay could change a patients outcome, Lalaji said. Radiology isnt background noiseits central to treatment decisions.

Radiology and Preventive Medicine Go Hand in Hand

Beyond diagnostics, Lalaji stresses that investment in radiology is also an investment in prevention. Early detection of conditions like cancer, cardiovascular disease, and musculoskeletal issues can reduce treatment costs, recovery times, and patient suffering.

Preventive medicine starts with imaging, he explained. You cant treat what you dont see.

For example, early-stage lung cancer identified through low-dose CT scans has a five-year survival rate of over 60%. When diagnosed later, that figure drops below 20%. The same applies to orthopedic injuriesearly detection can mean the difference between physical therapy and surgery.

Dr. Lalaji, whose company serves hospitals in over 40 states, has seen the difference that timely, high-quality imaging can make firsthand.

In places where systems are modernized, radiologists can interpret scans in minutes, not hours. Patients move faster through care. Outcomes improve. Its that simple, he said.

Local Institutions, Global Opportunity

Lalaji emphasizes that while advanced imaging often brings to mind high-end academic hospitals, local institutions actually stand to gain the most from targeted investment.

Community hospitals and outpatient clinics are on the frontlines, he said. They see everything from sports injuries to cancer screenings. If theyre equipped with modern tools, they can catch more, treat earlier, and save lives.

He cites examples where mobile MRI units, cloud-based PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication Systems), and AI-assisted diagnostics have already helped rural clinics deliver faster results without needing to refer patients hundreds of miles away.

Technology is finally getting cheaper and smarter, Lalaji said. Now its about leadership and local commitment.

What Patients and Communities Can Do

While infrastructure decisions often fall to health boards and administrators, Dr. Lalaji believes patients and community leaders can play a role, too. He encourages individuals to ask their providers questions about imaging services and push for transparency and modernization.

If your loved one needs a scan, ask what equipment is being used. Ask when it was last updated, he said. If youre on a hospital board, advocate for smart investments in imaging. If youre a patient, know that you have the right to ask about quality.

He also encourages civic and government leaders to support funding for diagnostic upgrades through local healthcare initiatives and public-private partnerships.

This isnt about bells and whistles, Lalaji said. Its about making sure people get accurate answers, faster.

A Call for Smarter Spending, Not Just More Spending

Dr. Lalaji makes it clear that this isnt about throwing money at the problem. Its about strategic upgrades. Smarter workflows. Training. Integration. You can do a lot without breaking budgets, he said.

His company, The Radiology Group, has helped implement scalable imaging models for smaller facilities, including hybrid on-site and teleradiology services that reduce cost without sacrificing speed or accuracy.

This is doable, he said. But it takes awareness, intention, and a push from the ground up.

What You Can Do

• Ask your doctor or imaging center how up-to-date their radiology equipment is.
  
  
• Support local hospital modernization efforts through community boards and fundraising.
  
  
• If you're a healthcare administrator, assess your facilitys imaging workflow and equipment age.
  
  
• Advocate for preventive screenings that rely on timely imaging, like mammograms and low-dose CT scans.

About Dr. Anand Lalaji

Dr. Anand P. Lalaji is a board-certified radiologist and the founder of The Radiology Group, which delivers radiology services to hospitals and clinics in over 40 U.S. states. He is also the creator of Inside Injuries, a sports medicine data platform, and an advocate for health innovation, early diagnostics, and equity in access to medical technology.