Interoperability Platform Provides Access of Images Regardless of Applications

A new imaging interoperability platform is an interoperability suite that allows providers to view current and historic images and content, regardless of the multiple applications in which the images are stored. Access to diagnostic information at the point of patient care is important for detecting and monitoring the progression of disease while enabling faster treatment and reducing duplicate exams.

Merge Healthcare (Chicago, IL, USA), a health information technology (IT) solutions provider, announced that Radiology Associates of Sacramento (RAS; CA, USA), the largest private radiology practice in Northern California, has expanded their Merge solution suite to include Merge iConnect.

"In today's healthcare enterprise, broad interoperability is a requirement," explained Craig Roy, chief information officer of RAS. "Radiology has been digital forever, but many practices were built as silos of information. We see real value in the Merge iConnect strategy of providing a complete solution for bringing our diagnostic content into any healthcare record. We started with the Merge PACS solution for digital imaging within radiology, and added their vendor-neutral archive [VNA] to help with image management across the enterprise. However, RAS was using a different vendor for our image distribution. The result was that we had to use a separate cache of images. We just moved to iConnect Access, and so far we are very pleased with the results."

iConnect Access is a key component, providing a zero-footprint, zero-download Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) and XDS (X direct save protocol) viewer that enables diagnostic quality image review for referring physicians.

Diagnostic imaging is typically regarded as one of the most important advances in medicine, yet the images are frequently not available on demand at the point of care. "Merge saw a real need in the market to provide end-to-end imaging interoperability for forward-thinking providers such as RAS," explained CEO Jeff Surges. "While there are a number of niche players in the market, no one else has the experience, expertise, and client footprint to deliver a complete solution that meets all requirements of image exchange and management."

Related Links:
Merge Healthcare
Radiology Associates of Sacramento