Enterprise-Wide Imaging and Archiving Technology Optimizes Disaster Recovery and Operational Workflow

A new collaboration will enable a US hospital to streamline flow of data to meet meaningful use 2 (MU2) requirements for the exchange of images, support health information exchange (HIE), as well as enhance the patient experience.

Merge Healthcare, Inc. (Chicago, IL, USA), a provider of enterprise imaging, interoperability, and clinical systems, reported that Comanche County Memorial Hospital (Lawton, OK, USA), a nonprofit, acute care facility and the largest hospital in the western part of the US state, Oklahoma, has selected Merge’s vendor-neutral archive (VNA) and image viewing and sharing solutions for improved disaster recovery and operational workflow.

“We previously utilized stand-alone PACS [picture archiving and communication system] with limited archiving capabilities and minimal disaster recovery assurance, which was of major concern with our location in tornado alley,” said James Wellman, senior director of information technology at Comanche County Memorial Hospital. “By implementing a VNA with a secondary image back-up system, we’ve secured our disaster recovery efforts and created a unified approach for various departments, including radiology and cardiology. We value Merge not only as a partner for our immediate needs, but we trust they will continue to provide ongoing innovative solutions for our unique environment at a cost-effective price.”

Comanche County memorial Hospital, while first looking for a way to better manage image archiving was presented with the opportunity to implement a broader enterprise-wide imaging strategy. Merge’s image access and sharing software will build a foundation for the future of interoperability, enable HIE and enhance referral networks at a reduced cost. Merge will implement the following interoperability solutions for enterprise imaging and the consolidation of their imaging infrastructure, including (1) iConnect Enterprise archive, Merge’s VNA, will enable providers to access current and historical critical patient information for enhanced patient care and improve disaster recovery capacity. (2) iConnect Access, a platform that merges universal viewing and image sharing into one enterprise system, will transport and view important patient data from any browser-based device.

“Merge is honored to work with Comanche County in support of their strong enterprise-wide imaging strategy that is focused on disaster recovery for their community,” said Justin Dearborn, CEO at Merge Healthcare. “Comanche County is a prime example of a forward-thinking organization capitalizing on their unique needs to achieve interoperability for enhanced referrals, reduced costs and better patient care.”

Merge’s enterprise and cloud-based technologies for image intensive specialties provide access to any image, anywhere, any time. Merge also provides clinical trials software with end-to-end study support in a single platform and other intelligent health data and analytics solutions.

Related Links:
Merge Healthcare
Comanche County Memorial Hospital