RIS Enables Providers to Meet Meaningful Use Criteria

A radiology information system (RIS) enables a web-based solution that streamlines workflow and enables providers to meet meaningful use (MU) criteria.

Merge Healthcare, Inc. (Chicago, IL, USA), a provider of clinical systems, announced that SimonMed Imaging (Phoenix, AZ, USA), the largest specialized outpatient physician imaging practice in the United States, will implement Merge’s integrated range of radiology systems combined with iConnect Access and iConnect VNA vendor-neutral archive (VNA) to provide anywhere, anytime viewing of images and achieve MU.

“With more than 50 sites, SimonMed is one of the fastest-growing imaging practices in the country,” said Jeff Surges, CEO of Merge Healthcare. “As they continued to acquire new practices they needed a cost effective and comprehensive solution.”

“Merge provides us with an integrated set of solutions that can scale to meet our requirements and support our mission of delivering high quality, cost effective medical imaging on a national level. With Merge’s iConnect Access, our physicians can view images in any location, on any web-enabled device, whether that’s an iPad, a laptop, or even an iPhone,” explained Dr. John Simon, CEO of SimonMed Imaging. “That type of accessibility is important when it comes to working with referring physicians in our communities and helps to ensure better coordination of patient care for higher quality outcomes. Additionally, this technology investment will enable us to lead the way in preparing for ACO [accountable care organization] and quality initiatives. With image access across all of our locations and an MU-certified platform, we are well positioned to lead the delivery of integrated care in each of the communities we serve across the country.”

SimonMed Imaging is utilizing the Merge radiology suite, which includes Merge RIS; Merge picture archiving and communication system (PACS), a real-time picture archiving communication system that provides storage and access to images from any enterprise web-based location; Merge Documents, a paperless office solution to store and manage documents electronically; Merge Referral Portal, a web-based portal to engage referring physicians; and Merge Dashboards, an on-demand business intelligence solution. Moreover, they are utilizing Merge iConnect Access, a zero-download T Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) image and XDS (extended data services) viewer and Merge iConnect VNA, a vendor neutral archive to create an enterprise imaging strategy backbone.

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

Related Links:
Merge Healthcare
SimonMed Imaging