Our Story: Built to Deliver, Driven to Lead

In 1979, Joe Arington was managing multiple healthcare service companies when he saw an opportunity: bring diagnostic imaging to facilities that couldn’t afford it. While traveling between hospitals across Minnesota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin, he built Shared Medical Services out of the back of his station wagon. His idea introduced a shared services model that offered healthcare providers flexibility, cost savings, and access to the latest imaging technology.

As word spread, so did the company’s reach. By 1984, the business had expanded throughout the Midwest, with mobile CT units covering routes up to 900 miles one way. To support growing demand, Shared Medical Services established its headquarters in Madison, Wisconsin, bringing on a dedicated team of Technologists and administrative staff to manage its expanding fleet and operations.

Shared Medical Services’ early success was just the beginning. As more providers sought flexible imaging options, the company scaled rapidly. In fact, its ability to serve both rural and urban providers led to long-standing partnerships across the region. With each new route, Shared Medical Services helped healthcare systems deliver diagnostic excellence to more patients, without infrastructure delays or capital investment.

Recognizing the growing need for MRI, Shared Medical Services launched one of the first mobile MRI programs in 1987, and mobile MRI has been part of who we are ever since. As technology evolved, with CT slice counts increasing and MRI moving to high-field systems, Shared Medical Services remained at the forefront, so providers always had access to current imaging without disruption.

What began as one man’s vision has grown into a nationwide company with 600+ employees. In 2012, the Arington family transitioned Shared Medical Services into an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), turning every employee into a stakeholder in the company’s future. This move strengthened Shared Medical Services’ culture of purpose, collaboration, and long-term commitment to quality care.

Today, Shared Medical Services remains committed to advancing diagnostic imaging through innovation, service, and expertise. We continue to deliver mobile CT, MRI, PET/CT, and Cardiac PET/CT solutions to healthcare providers nationwide. As demand grows and technology evolves, we’re investing in our people, expanding our fleet, and refining our solutions, all to help our partners deliver better care, wherever it’s needed.