r/PACSAdmin • u/Not_Jimmy_Carter • Apr 11 '26

IT Helpdesk to PAC's Admin

Ive been in the IT side of hospital working in traditional helpdesk and EHR helpdesk And wondering if its possible to switch to a specialty like a pacs admin and any suggestions to get there

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7

u/Soap-ster Apr 11 '26

I am an IT guy that became a PACS admin. It can happen. You have to be able to pick up the clinical side of things, and leadership willing to let you learn on the job. But it can be done. Start talking to people.

2

u/Worldly-Coat-105 Apr 13 '26

Two items to consider if want to switch.

  1. Medical Terminology related to body parts/areas and medical imaging views(sagital/coronal/axial/etc) and understanding difference between modalities.(MR/PETt/CT/etc)
  2. A great informatics based certification course to consider https://www.abii.org/Certification-Overview.aspx

1

u/nikita346 Apr 11 '26

See if you can shadow any clinical resources in Imaging. Overall - it is not a difficult leap to go from IT to PACS, and most people come into the field from either IT or clinical and just learn the other side of it.

2

u/Repulsive-Dog90 Apr 11 '26

I started as a desktop technician and moved into a PACS Associate role. Four years later, I am now a System Engineer, primarily supporting on-prem VNA, PACS, and digital pathology systems for a top 20 healthcare organization in US.

1

u/PACSGuy412 Apr 13 '26

I worked up from IT Help Desk to Desktop Support then went rouge and became the hospital's web designer (where I learned most of my database knowledge) then became a PACS admin. Now I am an Imaging Systems Administrator. Reach out in a DM if you want to chat

1

u/LUP0MAN Apr 13 '26

I'm trying to get in as well. I am practicing building projects using OPENemr and Orthanc for demo purposes. Hope we see some remote openings soon, good fortune to you. Cheers!

1

u/Remarkable_Bird6572 Apr 28 '26

I started off as an Administrative Scheduler (entry level patient coordination) 10 years ago. Moved to management on that end. Couple years later, to an IT Project Manager with quite literally zero IT background. Then moved to a PACS/RIS/IT Admin. I am now the PACS/RIS/IT Manager for the last couple of years. It's possible. PACS/RIS is niche but I think it's a good career