Vendor-Neutral Archive Consolidates Disparate Data Silos

A vendor-neutral archive (VNA) provides interoperability and access to any image, at any place, and at any time.

Merge Healthcare (Chicago, IL, USA), a provider of enterprise imaging and interoperability solutions, reported that Mercy will utilize iConnect VNA as the VNA across its enterprise of more than 200 clinic and hospital locations in the Midwest United States.

“This was an important and strategic decision for Mercy that we came to after carefully weighing the operational, functional, and financial components of Merge’s iConnect VNA,” said Will Showalter, vice president and chief information officer for Mercy (Chesterfield, MO, USA). “This solution allows us to continue to leverage our existing partnership with Merge Healthcare, while providing the technology platform to meet future challenges.”

“We needed a solution that would address the challenge of the disparate formats found in the myriad of PACS solutions on the market,” continued Mr. Showalter. “Without it, silos of data are created that hamper the quality of care and drive up costs. Merge’s iConnect VNA solves that challenge and goes a step further by providing our users with access to images and information across our enterprise whether that information came from a disparate departmental solution or an outside facility.”

“With Merge’s iConnect VNA, Mercy has created the foundation for a long-term, enterprise-wide imaging strategy,” said Jeff Surges, CEO, Merge Healthcare. “Not only does iConnect solve the challenge of consolidating images and data across the continuum of care, but it also addresses the critically important aspect of disaster recovery. The implementation of iConnect will provide Mercy with the ability to tackle future challenges while providing the highest level of patient care.”

Merge’s iConnect suite collects, archives, views, sharing, and exchanging any type of image, anywhere, any time. It includes iConnect Access, a zero-download Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) image and XDS (cross enterprise document-sharing) server; iConnect Share, an Internet-based gateway for image sharing between enterprises; and iConnect VNA, a VNA to create an enterprise imaging strategy. It works with existing applications, leveraging widely used web, and healthcare technology standards, to provide a vendor-neutral interoperable environment.

iConnect Access is not US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-cleared for diagnostic use on mobile devices.

Related Links:
Merge Healthcare
Mercy