IR beyond the procedure: mastering patient and team management

Interventional Radiology (IR) has evolved far beyond its procedural roots, offering advanced treatments in oncology, vascular disease, and trauma. Its future, however, depends on deeper integration into clinical workflows, patient management, and multidisciplinary collaboration. Barriers such as limited participation in care teams, absence of outpatient consultation structures, and insufficient clinical training hinder IR’s ability to fully own patient care, reducing visibility and delaying referrals. To reframe IR as a true clinical specialty, several actions are needed: expand integration through tumor boards, ward rounds, and follow-up clinics; strengthen patient-centered communication to support trust and informed consent; assume leadership roles to improve workflows, staffing, and institutional decision-making; reform training with broader clinical exposure, simulation, and standardized certification (e.g., EBIR); and establish structural consistency across departments to unify identity and foster collaboration. The future of IR lies in combining technical expertise with patient engagement, interdisciplinary cooperation, and clinical leadership—ensuring it becomes a central, not peripheral, force in modern healthcare. This review will explore the evolving role of interventional radiologists in patient management, with particular emphasis on their integration into hospital-based multidisciplinary teams. It will examine their participation in clinical decision-making, interprofessional communication, and strategies to enhance the visibility and recognition of IR among both patients and healthcare providers.