From Dung to Diagnostics: How a Texas Beetle Explains Portable Imaging Efficiency
My grandson came into my office at the house the other day excited about seeing his first Texas Dung Beetle rolling a deer turd across the driveway. I stopped and did a quick video then we started our first deep dive into Entomology of the Phanaeus vindex! Exciting times!
Days later during my drive times between patients, I kept thinking about that darn beetle. What is his business model? Somehow, as the President of Advanced Imaging Services (AIS) I felt a connection between his work and mine….and no, it doesn’t have a connection with turds. Well anyway I was able to better connect with this little mobile healthcare worker and this species and I have a unique and personal relationship now.
Let's explore!
1 | The Texas Dung Beetle’s Business Model
Phanaeus vindex is the flashy, metallic-green “rainbow scarab” common to Texas ranchlands. Its core competencies:
Waste Processing & Disease Control
Nutrient Banking
Decentralized Workforce
2 | AIS Portable Imaging: The Human Side of the Same Story
Advanced Imaging Services (AIS) solves a logistics bottleneck in long-term care:
Patient-Centered Mobility – Imaging vans act as roving diagnostic “dung beetles,” ferrying technology to where the need lies instead of forcing a fragile ecosystem (patients, staff, transport, payers) to revolve around a hospital radiology department.
Systemic Health Gains – By reducing ambulance rides and hospital-acquired infections, AIS “aerates” the healthcare soil, allowing limited nursing resources to focus on rehabilitation and chronic-care planning.
Regulatory Composting – AIS advocates for the P.U.R.E. Act, much like conservation groups lobby for beetle habitat—it’s about making sure the rules reflect the real value of unseen labor.
3 | Points of Synergy & Lessons Learned
Beetle Insight versus Portable Imaging Application
Roll It, Don’t Carry It – Beetles move dung in a sphere to reduce friction.
Invest in lighter battery operated x-ray and ultrasound units, DR panels, collapsible stands, and AI auto-positioning to cut technologist strain and visit times.
Bury Quickly, Signal Later – Tunnels are dug first; mating calls come after safety is secured.
Capture and upload images bedside; complete paperwork in the van to minimize room occupancy and infection risk.
Ecosystem Marketing – Ranchers value beetles when they see greener pastures.
We are packaging AIS outcomes data (fewer readmissions, faster treatment decisions, fewer missed rehab appointments) into facility report cards for long term care executives.
Diversity Yields Stability – Multiple dung beetle species share habitat, reducing collapse risk.
We are expanding the AIS menu—DEXA, QUS, vascular, Echo’s EKG and Holter monitor studies, and pulmonary tests, and health screenings-to protect revenue if X-ray fees erode.
4 | Collaborative Opportunities- No, Really!
Research Partnerships – Sponsor Texas A&M studies quantifying carbon savings of portable imaging vs. ambulance drives to the hospital; co-brand findings with entomology labs studying beetle carbon sequestration.
CSR & Brand Storytelling – “We work like nature’s clean-up crew—efficient, essential, unseen.” Use beetle imagery in brochures to stand out in a sea of bland medical graphics! Haha!
Process Benchmarking – Lean Six Sigma projects could borrow beetle “single-piece flow” principles: grab, roll, bury. For AIS: receive order, image, transmit, archive—no idle steps. (cheaper, faster, better!)
5 | Strategic Takeaways
Invisible Labor Is Indispensable – Whether decomposing manure or decompressing ER bottlenecks, the best work often happens out of sight. Shine a light on outcomes, not just activities.
Mobility Is a Force Multiplier – Portability lets both beetles and AIS shape their environments rather than be constrained by them.
Regulation Can Become Reputation – By championing policies that acknowledge real-world value (P.U.R.E. Act; wildlife protection), each earns goodwill and long-term viability.
Ecology Beats Ego – Success goes to the operator who harmonizes with the broader system—soil microbiome or healthcare continuum—rather than dominating it.
Closing Reflection
A dung beetle may seem worlds apart from a state-of-the-art portable X-ray/Ultrasound company, yet both thrive by tackling waste, unlocking hidden value, and keeping complex systems in balance. For my company Advanced Imaging Services, embracing a “beetle mindset” isn’t just a quirky metaphor—it’s a strategic lens for continuous innovation, sustainable growth, and… persuasive storytelling.
Please support the P.U.R.E act by asking your Representative and Senator to sign on to the bill as a co-sponsor and help ROLL this bill into law!
