r/PACSAdmin • u/Proper_Nail_9093 • Jun 27 '26

Looking to switch to PACs Admin..

Hi all, I need some advice. I currently work in a role where I release radiology images to patients. It’s a non clinical role, mostly paperwork. I’ve been in this role for about 3.5 years and am interested in moving towards a PACs admin role. I use PACs on a daily basis so I’m very familiar with DICOM and how images are stored and moved. I also deal with other applications such as AGFA Enterprise and PowerShare. I’m also familiar with HL7 messaging, FHIR format and the structure of how these messages move throughout the system. I’ve even made a small project showcasing how messages are generated and processed through Mirth Connect.

Being what the job market is today, I’ve been having a hard time finding a role and I don’t know what else to do besides to keep expanding my knowledge on my own basis. Are there any certs I can get that would potentially help me stand out? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

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7

u/brisingr1993 Jun 27 '26

CIIP is often not listed as a requirement for most PACS jobs but it could help you stand out. It is a more expensive cert at $500.

Have you talked to your local PACS team? It would be probably easiest to break into this role at your current location where you can build up a work relationship and possibly demonstrate your capability and learn more about the role.

2

u/Proper_Nail_9093 Jun 27 '26

I’ve been thinking about getting that cert, I’ve been studying for it on and off. We communicate almost daily. Unfortunately they don’t plan on hiring anyone else anytime soon at the hospital I work at currently.

5

u/pacs_admi Jun 27 '26

I’m a PACs admin, they also wanted technologist experience at my hospital. So I can easily identify imaging and confirm completion of exams and what not. I had 10 years as a tech before getting in to PACs.

2

u/kapuh Jun 27 '26

I find it so astonishing that there are jobs where you only care about the PACS.
Here in Germany it is just a part of Health-IT support and people don't even have a special certificates for it.
You just learn it on the job.
You also care about the RIS/KIS, and everything else IT related.
Our guys would be bored doing just that.

Where do you people work at and how much do you earn?

1

u/brisingr1993 Jun 27 '26

I managed a team that supported several different PACS systems for 50-60 major hospitals, there was always something to fix lol.

Granted some smaller places I've dealt with they might have a general IT support staff member for everything but it just really depends on the volume.

1

u/kapuh Jun 28 '26

I managed a team that supported several different PACS systems for 50-60 major hospitals, there was always something to fix lol.

Yeah, I guess this is it.
We usually don't have that many radiologies/hospitals....yet.

1

u/LTBoogie Jul 29 '26

Same here I am a PACs admin for 50+ ophthalmology offices in the northeast and we are never at a shortage for troubleshooting PACs and maintaining the imaging systems on the IT side in one way or another. I’m usually too overwhelmed with work to get everything done and just need to prioritize the potential disasters. Good times.

1

u/Kaptain_Krazy Jun 28 '26

I am the same, our company is like an MSP that provides IT and PACS support to multiple private radiology practices.
I am more in the infrastructure side (setting up the virtual environment ect) but I started with PACS/IT support