Discover how Norway’s largest healthcare region is advancing responsible AI adoption in radiology through a national platform strategy, multi-regional collaboration, and practical procurement support, turning early implementation success into a scalable model for healthcare AI.
As Norway’s largest healthcare region, Helse Sør-Øst RHF plays a central role in shaping the future of specialist healthcare services. A key part of that future is the responsible adoption of AI. In a recent conversation with Nis Johannsen, the Head of Digital Innovation at Helse Sør-Øst RHF, we explored the challenges of implementing AI in radiology departments and discussed how our collaboration has helped turn ambition into action.
One of their first major steps was the successful implementation of a commercially available AI application for fracture detection in the radiology department at one hospital. “This was the first real AI project in Norwegian radiology,” which unlike earlier innovation projects that focused on research or development, it demonstrated that AI could be integrated into real clinical radiological practice.
Following that success, the focus shifted from implementing a single solution to scaling AI adoption across hospitals. To support this, the region began exploring an AI platform approach: creating a structured foundation through which multiple AI applications could be implemented, governed, and integrated over time.
As part of this strategy, the region was aiming to launch a tender with the ambition to select three AI platforms through a national framework agreement, enabling structured scaling and future mini competitions for AI applications. The goal was to build a model that could support implementation across the four health regions in Norway.
“The thought of using a platform approach came at a certain point...but platforms are new, it’s an emerging market,” Johannsen explains. This was the moment Helse Sør-Øst RHF began exploring a structured AI platform strategy and where Romion Health stepped in to support the organization through its tender journey.
As Helse Sør-Øst RHF moved from pilot projects toward scaling AI, new challenges emerged around procurement, integration, and vendor maturity. “That was basically at the point where we had so many questions that we were looking for help to answer them.”
AI platforms were still an emerging market, and the organization found it difficult to identify the specific expertise needed within the Norwegian consultancy landscape. As mentioned by Nis Johannsen
“We were looking for a very specific kind of expertise and experience, which can be challenging to find, and that’s what made this collaboration particularly valuable”.
Romion Health was ultimately selected for its ability to bridge theory and practice, combining academic insight with hands-on experience of implementation in complex healthcare environments. “It was a good combination of academic insight, while at the same time addressing the practical issues, the practical questions we needed to answer.”
As the tender process moved forward, the questions became more concrete. What should an AI platform actually be required to deliver? And how could it support scaling beyond a single hospital, rather than creating yet another isolated solution?
Romion Health joined the discussions at this stage, contributing to the development of requirements and evaluation criteria. The goal was not only to support the procurement process, but to explore how a platform approach could support scaling beyond a single hospital.
When vendors entered the picture, the complexity increased. Comparing proposals required more than checking functional boxes, it demanded external perspective and international experience.
“You had the experience, you had the contacts, you’d seen a lot of things that we hadn’t seen at that point,” Johannsen recalls.
A key topic throughout the work was integration. The importance of distinguishing between vendor promises and technical reality was highlighted throughout our collaboration. “Vendors will of course say that everything is integrated… but not necessarily technically.”
During vendor appraisal, the value lay in providing critical reflection and expertise, while the final decisions remained with the regional project group and governance structure. “We made the decision ourselves… but to have some sort of outsider who has a different kind of expertise… that was very valuable for us.”
The collaboration helped strengthen the region’s ability to assess AI platform vendors in a fast-moving and complex market. “We need this kind of practical side…the translation from scientific insights to practical usage.” As Nis Johannsen emphasises, it is more valuable to have independent support that combines scientific understanding with practical experience, rather than purely academic or theoretical models.
Romion brought additional depth into the evaluation process, especially around integration details and vendor maturity. “To have an outsider who has a different kind of expertise specifically addressing these issues was very valuable for us”, noting that this type of support was difficult to find elsewhere. “I’m convinced that not many teams offer this level of specialized support
The platform work in Norway is continuing to evolve. “Now we are also collaborating across the whole country, which is a very good thing.” All four Norwegian regions have now signed contracts with 3 AI platform vendors, enabling collaboration across the whole country.
At the same time, Nis Johannsen shared “We are encountering difficulties continuously… the processes are too big and too slow.” Challenges include governance processes that can be slow, and the dynamics between platform vendors and existing IT infrastructure.
The Norwegian approach has already attracted interest internationally, with other countries looking to learn from their platform strategy. “I talk to Denmark… Sweden… NHS England… Wales… Scotland… they are inspired, and they really want to know more about our approach.”
Although challenges remain, slow governance, complex procurement, and technical integration hurdles, the Norwegian experience highlights an important lesson: successful AI adoption depends on shared platforms, cross-organizational collaboration, and iterative learning. Romion Health remains committed to supporting responsible AI adoption in radiology, grounded in practical experience and transparent evaluation.
As Norway’s largest healthcare region, Helse Sør-Øst RHF plays a central role in shaping the future of specialist healthcare services. A key part of that future is the responsible adoption of AI. In a recent conversation with Nis Johannsen, the Head of Digital Innovation at Helse Sør-Øst RHF, we explored the challenges of implementing AI in radiology departments and discussed how our collaboration has helped turn ambition into action.
One of their first major steps was the successful implementation of a commercially available AI application for fracture detection in the radiology department at one hospital. “This was the first real AI project in Norwegian radiology,” which unlike earlier innovation projects that focused on research or development, it demonstrated that AI could be integrated into real clinical radiological practice.
Following that success, the focus shifted from implementing a single solution to scaling AI adoption across hospitals. To support this, the region began exploring an AI platform approach: creating a structured foundation through which multiple AI applications could be implemented, governed, and integrated over time.
As part of this strategy, the region was aiming to launch a tender with the ambition to select three AI platforms through a national framework agreement, enabling structured scaling and future mini competitions for AI applications. The goal was to build a model that could support implementation across the four health regions in Norway.
“The thought of using a platform approach came at a certain point...but platforms are new, it’s an emerging market,” Johannsen explains. This was the moment Helse Sør-Øst RHF began exploring a structured AI platform strategy and where Romion Health stepped in to support the organization through its tender journey.
As Helse Sør-Øst RHF moved from pilot projects toward scaling AI, new challenges emerged around procurement, integration, and vendor maturity. “That was basically at the point where we had so many questions that we were looking for help to answer them.”
AI platforms were still an emerging market, and the organization found it difficult to identify the specific expertise needed within the Norwegian consultancy landscape. As mentioned by Nis Johannsen
“We were looking for a very specific kind of expertise and experience, which can be challenging to find, and that’s what made this collaboration particularly valuable”.
Romion Health was ultimately selected for its ability to bridge theory and practice, combining academic insight with hands-on experience of implementation in complex healthcare environments. “It was a good combination of academic insight, while at the same time addressing the practical issues, the practical questions we needed to answer.”
As the tender process moved forward, the questions became more concrete. What should an AI platform actually be required to deliver? And how could it support scaling beyond a single hospital, rather than creating yet another isolated solution?
Romion Health joined the discussions at this stage, contributing to the development of requirements and evaluation criteria. The goal was not only to support the procurement process, but to explore how a platform approach could support scaling beyond a single hospital.
When vendors entered the picture, the complexity increased. Comparing proposals required more than checking functional boxes, it demanded external perspective and international experience.
“You had the experience, you had the contacts, you’d seen a lot of things that we hadn’t seen at that point,” Johannsen recalls.
A key topic throughout the work was integration. The importance of distinguishing between vendor promises and technical reality was highlighted throughout our collaboration. “Vendors will of course say that everything is integrated… but not necessarily technically.”
During vendor appraisal, the value lay in providing critical reflection and expertise, while the final decisions remained with the regional project group and governance structure. “We made the decision ourselves… but to have some sort of outsider who has a different kind of expertise… that was very valuable for us.”
The collaboration helped strengthen the region’s ability to assess AI platform vendors in a fast-moving and complex market. “We need this kind of practical side…the translation from scientific insights to practical usage.” As Nis Johannsen emphasises, it is more valuable to have independent support that combines scientific understanding with practical experience, rather than purely academic or theoretical models.
Romion brought additional depth into the evaluation process, especially around integration details and vendor maturity. “To have an outsider who has a different kind of expertise specifically addressing these issues was very valuable for us”, noting that this type of support was difficult to find elsewhere. “I’m convinced that not many teams offer this level of specialized support
The platform work in Norway is continuing to evolve. “Now we are also collaborating across the whole country, which is a very good thing.” All four Norwegian regions have now signed contracts with 3 AI platform vendors, enabling collaboration across the whole country.
At the same time, Nis Johannsen shared “We are encountering difficulties continuously… the processes are too big and too slow.” Challenges include governance processes that can be slow, and the dynamics between platform vendors and existing IT infrastructure.
The Norwegian approach has already attracted interest internationally, with other countries looking to learn from their platform strategy. “I talk to Denmark… Sweden… NHS England… Wales… Scotland… they are inspired, and they really want to know more about our approach.”
Although challenges remain, slow governance, complex procurement, and technical integration hurdles, the Norwegian experience highlights an important lesson: successful AI adoption depends on shared platforms, cross-organizational collaboration, and iterative learning. Romion Health remains committed to supporting responsible AI adoption in radiology, grounded in practical experience and transparent evaluation.
