Thirty years ago Joe Arington drew upon his years of experience managing companies dealing in nuclear medicine services, mobile ultrasound services and other services related to the health care industry and started Shared Medical Services from the back of his station wagon.


With more that 500 customers today, SMS provides advanced medical imaging equipment to health care facilities around the country in multiple configurations; mobile, parked mobile, modular, and even in-house, primarily focusing on CT, MRI, PET/CT, and Digital Mammography.

"Shared Medical Services started out with just one route and over the course of 30 years we have organically grown to a fleet of units comprising 130+ systems," says Brad Hegg, marketing manager for the Cottage Grove, Wis.-based company. "We have a field staff here with 20+ years of experience in the medical imaging industry that we can pull in if need be. Our leadership team averages 19 years with Shared Medical Services and regional operations managers average 13 years."

More than 350 team members comprised of technologists, medical assistants, executives, administrative staff, drivers, and field engineers bring state-of-the-art technology to facilities around the country.

"Our mission is to be a premier provider of specialized medical diagnostic imaging solutions for the health care industry," Hegg says. "As a medical service company, it is our responsibility to provide a quality product and to ensure corporate strength that allows continued development."

Among ways Hegg says the company achieves these goals is by contributing to the value of the health care system with quality and cost-effective services, focusing on the patients' need and right to health care and working as a team to be positive and attentive to all patients.

"Shared Medical Services is the premier provider of specialized medical diagnostic imaging solutions for the health care industry," Hegg says. "We help health care facilities provide state-of-the-art equipment [services] to the people who matter most, the patients."

It's their customization, Hegg believes that makes SMS stand out, since the privately-held company can work more closely with the health care facilities to come up with solutions that best fit their needs.

"Reaching 30 years of business is our biggest success," Hegg says. "Shared Medical Services has had many milestones and success stories over 30 years, but Arington took a company from a dream to 500+ active customers, 350+ team members, and over 130 state-of-the-art imaging systems. That's something we are all proud to be a part of."

Although the company has been challenged by the economic climate that many in the industry have faced over the last two years, SMS is doing its part to make it a little easier for its customers.

"With the current economic strain, it's difficult for many to get financing for large capital expenditures like medical imaging. Because of Shared Medical Services' long history and capabilities, we're able to help small rural hospitals with mobile imaging solutions up to large metropolitan in-house/fixed leases and/or upgrade options," Hegg says. "With our capital-free imaging solutions we're able to work closely with our customers to tailor a solution that will best fit their financial needs."

As for the future, Hegg says the company is always watching the industry and looking for new cutting-edge technology and services.

"Shared Medical Services was the first to offer a mobile GE PET and then PET/CT system in the country," he says. "The medical imaging industry is always working on improving and so are we."

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