Why Hire a Clinical Imaging Consultant?

A Biased—but Honest—Perspective

As someone who works as a clinical imaging consultant, I’ll admit up front: I believe there’s real value in what we do. That said, it’s not always necessary. Many organizations have strong internal teams with enough experience to manage system selection, configuration, and workflow development without outside help.

But not all projects are simple. And when complexity increases—when multiple departments, technologies, or even institutions are involved—that’s when things can get messy. Mistakes at this level don’t just frustrate users; they can affect patient care, delay timelines, and become very expensive to correct.

When Small Errors Have Big Consequences

Selecting the wrong system, misconfiguring a workflow, or overlooking how a change affects downstream users can lead to lasting issues. You might find that your new system doesn’t align with how radiologists read studies, that it doesn’t interface cleanly with existing tools, or that it introduces inefficiencies no one anticipated. These aren’t just technical glitches—they're problems that impact real clinical work.

What makes matters harder is that many issues only become obvious once you're deep into implementation—or worse, after go-live. And by that point, course correction isn’t always easy. That’s why early planning, with a clear understanding of both clinical and technical requirements, is so important.

Choosing the cheaper system isn’t always a mistake—sometimes it fits your clinical needs perfectly. But when it doesn’t, the long-term consequences can go well beyond dollars and cents, affecting workflow efficiency and the quality of patient care. The key is knowing what you truly need, and getting the right advice early enough to make an informed, balanced decision.

Communication Gaps Are Real

One of the big challenges in imaging informatics is that clinical and technical teams often speak different languages. A radiologist’s description of a problem may not match how an IT team thinks about solutions. And vice versa: technical limitations might not be fully appreciated by clinical staff, leading to unrealistic expectations or misaligned priorities.

This divide isn’t anyone’s fault—it’s just a reality of working across disciplines. But it does mean that projects sometimes stall, or result in solutions that only partially meet the actual need. One way to address this is by taking time to properly document clinical use cases and involving end users early on. It also helps to have someone who understands both sides and can keep the conversation grounded in practical realities.

When Complexity Ramps Up

While many projects can be managed in-house, there are situations where additional help becomes worth considering. This often happens when:

• Multiple departments or organizations are involved

• The scope includes new workflows or unfamiliar technical standards (like DICOMweb, HL7 FHIR, or enterprise PACS)

• You're evaluating vendors with overlapping but not identical offerings

• Clinical needs vary significantly between sites or specialties

• The stakes are too high to risk a misstep

Large-scale procurements, multi-site upgrades, or enterprise-wide workflow redesigns are examples of projects where added perspective can make a real difference. Sometimes, it’s about confirming what you already know. Other times, it’s about seeing blind spots you didn’t realize were there.

So, Do You Need a Consultant?

Not always. If your internal team has the time, the knowledge, and the bandwidth to manage the project—and if the scope is well understood—there’s no reason you can’t succeed on your own. But when the project gets bigger, the stakes rise, or you're simply facing unfamiliar ground, having someone to help guide the process can reduce the risk of expensive missteps.

It doesn’t have to be a long engagement or a major investment. Sometimes a bit of early input—help framing requirements, reviewing workflows, or aligning stakeholders—is all it takes to put a project on the right track. And if you ever find yourself needing that kind of support, it’s good to know that there are people out there who’ve done this before and can help you get where you need to go.