Optimizing the positioning of a patient on a patient couch for medical imaging

A computer-implemented method is for operating a medical imaging system. The imaging system includes an imaging unit and a positioning apparatus for positioning an examination object. In an embodiment, the method includes ascertainment of object information relating to the examination object; determination of a region of interest for the examination object, the region of interest being defined as a region of the examination object to be examined by the imaging unit in the context of an examination to be performed; arrival at a determination concerning a positional state of the examination object relative to the positioning apparatus and, to be precise, based on the region of interest and the object information; and provision of user output for a user of the imaging system based on the determination.