Enterprise Imaging

Enterprise imaging brings together all imaging exams, patient data and reports from across a healthcare system into one location to aid efficiency and economy of scale for data storage. This enables immediate access to images and reports any clinical user of the electronic medical record (EMR) across a healthcare system, regardless of location. Enterprise imaging (EI) systems replace the former system of using a variety of disparate, siloed picture archiving and communication systems (PACS), radiology information systems (RIS), and a variety of separate, dedicated workstations and logins to view or post-process different imaging modalities. Often these siloed systems cannot interoperate and cannot easily be connected. Web-based EI systems are becoming the standard across most healthcare systems to incorporate not only radiology, but also cardiology (CVIS), pathology and dozens of other departments to centralize all patient data into one cloud-based data storage and data management system.

The American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC) is asking Congress to repeal the appropriate use software provision mandate, which physicians say is an obstacle to efficient care.

ASNC asks Congress to officially repeal the AUC mandate for advanced medical imaging

Medicare rescinded the provision in the 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, but the law remains on the books. 

Peter Monteleone, MD, an interventional cardiologist, national director of cardiovascular research at Ascension Health, and assistant professor, UT Austin Dell School of Medicine, explained the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to independently identify an emergency stroke or pulmonary embolism (PE) finding on a CT scan and automatically alert critical care team members. His health system uses this type of AI for earlier activation of the pulmonary embolism response team (PERT).

AI critical care software revolutionizes emergency response

Ascension Health in Texas uses AI that can read CT scans for stroke and pulmonary embolism to activate care teams before the images even get into the PACS.

Cloud service icon with options and devices

Private equity-backed cardiology group puts cloud-based technology in hands of its cardiologists

Cardiovascular Associates of America, backed by Webster Equity Partners, currently includes practices in eight different states. Its partner cardiologists now have preferred access to multiple cloud-based services provided by Athenahealth. 

Key trends in enterprise imaging

Radiology is going though a period of disruption with a growing radiologist shortage, decreasing reimbursements and increasing numbers of exams, making workflow efficiency a critical concern.

Best in KLAS 2024: New rankings for cardiovascular information systems, hemodynamic solutions

Hospital end users ranked the CVIS and hemodynamic systems they use, shedding light on their working relationships with IT vendors. 

Sectra's packed booth at RSNA 2023. Sectra again won the Best in KLAS 2024 awards as the best vendor to work with for for both large and small sized radiology PACS.

Best in KLAS 2024 rankings released, showcasing medical imaging IT systems

End-users of various radiology IT systems offer their assessment of the software they use in the annual KLAS Research 2024 Best in KLAS report.

Lyle McMillin, principal healthcare product manager with Hyland, explains radiology IT issues and how cloud and enterprise imaging can be a solution. #RSNA #RSNA23 #RSNA2023 #PACS #enterpriseimaging

Radiology embracing the flexibility of imaging data stored off-site in the cloud

Lyle McMillin, with radiology IT vendor Hyland, explains trends he sees in the market and a definite shift toward cloud and enterprise imaging to address challenges in the market. 

Video interview with Merge healthcare's General Manager of Imaging Ashish Sant on key trends in radiology IT and AI workflow orchestration at RSNA 2023. #RSNA #HealthIT #enterpriseimaging #PACS HealthAI

Radiology staffing shortages increasing demand for AI and cloud

Ashish Sant, general manager for Imaging at Merge explains how imaging informatics can help mitigate the radiology staffing shortage.

Around the web

Compensation for heart specialists continues to climb. What does this say about cardiology as a whole? Could private equity's rising influence bring about change? We spoke to MedAxiom CEO Jerry Blackwell, MD, MBA, a veteran cardiologist himself, to learn more.

The American College of Cardiology has shared its perspective on new CMS payment policies, highlighting revenue concerns while providing key details for cardiologists and other cardiology professionals. 

As debate simmers over how best to regulate AI, experts continue to offer guidance on where to start, how to proceed and what to emphasize. A new resource models its recommendations on what its authors call the “SETO Loop.”