The verdict in three sentences
A private radiology group with 6 imaging centres in the Dublin area performing 900 scans a day loses dozens of MRI and CT slots every week to 11 % no-shows, while MRI waiting times sit at 3 to 5 weeks. A custom software layer connected to the existing RIS and PACS handles online booking, reminders, a smart waitlist, report delivery to patients and GPs, and multi-site reporting. At Kolonell, this is a complex application (7,000,000 to 15,000,000+ FCFA, i.e. 10,670 to 22,870+ EUR), hosted in an EU data centre suited to health data.
Where imaging slots are lost
An MRI scanner costs the same per hour whether it runs or not. The operations director of a Dublin group juggles overloaded booking lines, GPs and consultants requesting urgent scans, insurer pre-authorisations and patients who forget appointments. Every lost MRI slot is revenue that never comes back.
| Metric | Current situation (2026 order of magnitude) | With the software layer |
|---|---|---|
| No-shows | 11 % | 4 to 5 % with SMS reminders and confirmation |
| Average MRI wait | 3 to 5 weeks | 2 to 3 weeks thanks to the waitlist |
| Inbound calls to booking teams | 1,800 a day across the group | 900 to 1,100, half of bookings online |
| Report turnaround to referrer | 24 to 72 h, post or secure email | 2 to 24 h, online access for patient and GP |
| Freed slots rebooked | Under 20 % | 70 to 80 % via the automatic waitlist |
| Management reporting | Monthly RIS exports | Daily activity by site, modality and radiologist |
Modules and regulatory constraints
The RIS and PACS stay in place: the project builds around them what patients, referrers and management lack.
| Module | Function | Complexity |
|---|---|---|
| Online booking | By modality, preparation, MRI safety screening | Medium |
| Reminders and confirmation | SMS at D-3 and D-1, one-click confirm or cancel | Simple |
| Smart waitlist | Automatic offer of freed slots by clinical priority | Complex |
| Referrer portal | Scan requests, status, reports and images | Medium |
| Report delivery | Secure patient access, image links, insurer documentation | Complex |
| RIS and PACS interfaces | HL7 and DICOM messaging, calendar sync | Complex |
| Multi-site reporting | Utilisation per scanner, waits, activity per radiologist | Medium |
On compliance, health data falls under GDPR special category rules and Irish Data Protection Act 2018 requirements: EU hosting, strong authentication for clinicians, full access logs and a data protection impact assessment. These requirements account for roughly 15 to 20 % of project effort.
What changes for GPs and patients
For a GP, the referrer portal replaces faxes and phone calls: request a scan, see the booked date, receive the report the same day. For a patient, an SMS confirms the appointment, explains preparation (fasting for an abdominal CT, for instance) and offers an earlier slot if one frees up. Groups that make referrers' lives easier typically gain 5 to 10 % more referrals within a year (2026 order of magnitude), which matters in a competitive private imaging market.
Budget and timeline
A first release with online booking, reminders, waitlist and reporting, interfaced with the RIS, sits in the complex band: 7,000,000 to 15,000,000+ FCFA (10,670 to 22,870+ EUR), delivered in 16 to 20 weeks. The referrer portal and report delivery can form a second phase. Premium maintenance at 120,000 FCFA per month is essential for a healthcare service. Health-grade hosting and RIS or PACS vendor interface licences are quoted separately.
Mini case study
Ciarán, operations director of a 6-centre radiology group in Dublin, runs 4 MRI scanners doing 32 scans a day each. With 11 % no-shows and under 20 % of slots rebooked, he loses about 11 MRI scans a day. At average revenue of EUR 400 per private or insured MRI (2026 order of magnitude), that is EUR 4,400 a day.
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Cutting no-shows to 5 % and rebooking 75 % of freed slots brings losses down to about 2 scans a day. The gain is 9 scans, EUR 3,600 a day and roughly EUR 900,000 over 250 working days, before counting CT and ultrasound. Against a complex project and a year of Premium maintenance, payback takes a few weeks.
FAQ
Do we need to replace our RIS or PACS?
No. The project relies on them through HL7 and DICOM standards. Building the interfaces takes 4 to 6 weeks, depending on vendor documentation.
Where is patient data hosted?
In an EU data centre with encryption and daily backups. Every clinician access is logged and retained for at least 6 months.
Can patients safely book an MRI online?
Yes. A safety questionnaire blocks the booking if the patient has a pacemaker or non-compatible implant and routes them to staff. In practice, 50 to 60 % of ultrasound and X-ray bookings move online.
How does the waitlist work?
When a slot frees up, waiting patients for that modality get an SMS in order of clinical priority and the first to confirm gets it. Rebooking rates reach 70 to 80 %.
How long does the first phase take?
Allow 16 to 20 weeks, including 3 to 4 weeks of acceptance testing with booking teams. Rollout goes site by site, starting with the smallest centre.
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Let's scope your project. We scope the RIS integration, compliant hosting and a site-by-site rollout for your imaging group. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
