Our Story — Built to Deliver, Driven to Lead

In 1979, Joe Arington was managing multiple healthcare service companies when he saw an opportunity: bring advanced 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 state-of-the-art 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, SMS established its headquarters in Madison, Wisconsin — bringing on a dedicated team of technologists and administrative staff to manage its expanding fleet and operations.

SMS’s 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, SMS helped healthcare systems deliver diagnostic excellence to more patients — without infrastructure delays or capital investment.

Recognizing the need for advanced diagnostic imaging, SMS launched one of the first mobile MRI programs in 1987, solidifying its role as an industry leader. As technology evolved—CT slice counts increased, MRI moved to high-field systems—SMS remained at the forefront, ensuring providers always had access to cutting-edge imaging without disruption.

What began as one man’s vision has grown into a nationwide company with more than 500 employees. In 2012, the Arington family transitioned SMS into an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) — turning every employee into a stakeholder in the company’s future. This move strengthened SMS’s culture of purpose, collaboration, and long-term commitment to quality care.

Today, SMS remains committed to advancing diagnostic imaging through innovation, service, and expertise. We continue to deliver Mobile MRI, CT, 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.