TMCnet News

Merge To Unveil Mobile and Internet Platform For Patients at RSNA
[November 16, 2012]

Merge To Unveil Mobile and Internet Platform For Patients at RSNA


(ENP Newswire Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) ENP Newswire - 16 November 2012 Release date- 15112012 - Chicago, IL - Merge Healthcare Incorporated (NASDAQ: MRGE), a leading provider of clinical systems and innovations that seek to transform healthcare, will unveil a national mobile and internet platform for consumers and demonstrate how enterprise imaging solutions support achieving Meaningful Use objectives at the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) in booth #4845.



Merge is showcasing a new mobile and Internet platform for consumers to select a radiologist, schedule an appointment and receive results electronically. The platform will also feature: A mobile app for referring physicians to send patients to recommended imaging centers A website for consumers to complete pre-work and schedule appointments A cloud-based portal for imaging centers to share results with referring physicians and patients Analytics for practices to maximize throughput 'We are proud of the fact that in 2011, 82 million imaging procedures were referred to current Merge customers,' said Jeff Surges, CEO of Merge Healthcare. 'Our goal with this new platform is to help close the loop between a referral and a patient receiving results while at the same time enabling our customers to grow their businesses to deliver the best patient care.' This mobile and Internet platform will be available in early 2013 and will become the new merge.com. Users will be able to sign up at RSNA and will be notified once the portal is live.

Merge Accelerates Move to the Cloud with Merge Honeycomb Introduced last year at RSNA, Merge Honeycomb has seen rapid adoption with more than 3.3 million studies under contract in the cloud-based archive. Merge Honeycomb cloud-based applications are designed to help healthcare stakeholders collaborate and improve the delivery of care while reducing costs. The applications currently available via Merge Honeycomb include: Merge Honeycomb Archive: Store medical images securely in the cloud and access them from anywhere, any time Merge Honeycomb Image Sharing: Free application that enables any user to upload, download, view and share medical images 'Image management in healthcare is very much in a state of reform, with HIPAA requiring providers to keep retrievable exact copies of health information including images and Meaningful Use requiring that information is sharable,' said Surges. 'With our expertise developed from more than 20 years of managing medical images and leading technology, Merge is uniquely positioned to deliver a secure, efficient and accessible solution for archiving images in the cloud.' Merge Showcases the Latest in Enterprise-Wide Image Interoperability with iConnect Merge's iConnect Enterprise Clinical Platform is a suite of image interoperability solutions that improve workflow, reduce care delays and lower costs by enabling access to any image, anywhere, at any time, on any device. iConnect supports an enterprise-wide imaging strategy by providing access to medical images from any approved web-enabled device and facilitates the sharing of images between referring centers without the need for additional equipment or software. Components include: iConnect Access: A zero-download image viewer iConnect Share: An Internet-gateway capable of receiving and morphing studies from outside the enterprise, allowing for prompt electronic transfer of images iConnect Enterprise Archive: A vendor-neutral archive (VNA) to create a patient-centric record of images across all sites and modalities, enabling physicians to manage content from disparate storage solutions 'With current trends in patient safety and healthcare reform as well as competition for referring physicians, the need for image sharing across the enterprise is more critical than ever,' continued Surges. 'We've listened closely to clients such as Children's Memorial, Ascension Health and Dignity Health, and have incorporated features that will significantly improve ease of use, reduce storage costs and streamline operational workflow.' Merge Radiology Clients to Receive More than $14 Million in Incentive Funds in 2012 To date, more than 50 clients have already attested or are in the attestation process using the web-based, feature-rich Merge RIS solution. Merge RIS is used by hundreds of ambulatory care practices, imaging centers and radiology group practices to improve profitability and provide radiologists with the capability to capture and report on the metrics required to demonstrate 'meaningful use' of electronic health records.


'With more than 90% of radiologists able to qualify for Meaningful Use incentives, it is essential that they develop a strategy to meet criteria, earn incentive funds and more importantly, avoid future penalties,' said Surges. 'In fact, Merge clients have already received $3.1 million in Meaningful Use incentive dollars with an additional $10.9 million expected by the end of the year. This is powerful proof that Meaningful Use is relevant to radiology and that Merge solutions can help them successfully navigate the attestation process.' Merge RIS provides the functionality needed to achieve Meaningful Use requirements, including: Data collection: Gather mandated patient data intuitively within your preferred workflow Reporting: Access pre-configured, easy-to-use reports to assist with Meaningful Use data submission Patient portal: Provide patients with clinical summaries, electronic copies of their health information, educational information, reminders and more ePrescribing: Qualify for reimbursement and deliver added value to patients Merge Highlights Best in KLAS Cardiology Solutions Merge Hemo, a real-time documentation tool for the cardiac cath lab, was ranked #1 in KLAS in 2011. Merge Cardio provides a single view of a patient's complete record across all cardiology modalities. Combined, these solutions allow access to simplified reporting tools and integration with the industry's largest health information systems and EHRs for interoperable image exchange.

'Busy healthcare professionals don't have time to jump between systems to locate critical patient data and images,' continued Surges. 'Merge cardiology solutions allow for a single point of access from any web-enabled location to create reports more efficiently, improve workflow and help build referral business.' Merge Demonstrates Latest Version of Merge PACS At RSNA Merge will be showcasing the most recent version of Merge PACS, a real-time picture archiving communication system that enhances clinical, operational and administrative functions with an approach that emphasizes workflow efficiency and customer satisfaction. Its modular design allows for easy integration with a broad range of third-party systems.

'With Merge PACS, radiologists can accelerate workflow, enabling them to operate with fewer resources,' said Surges. 'And the ability to quickly and easily communicate and document results with referring physicians improves treatment time and helps expand referral networks.' About Merge Merge is a leading provider of clinical systems and innovations that seek to transform healthcare. Merge's enterprise and cloud-based solutions for image intensive specialties provide access to any image, anywhere, any time. Merge also provides health stations, clinical trials software and other health data and analytics solutions that engage consumers in their personal health. With solutions that are used by providers and consumers and include more than 20 years of innovation, Merge is helping to reduce costs and improve the quality of healthcare worldwide. For more information, visit merge.com.

Cautionary Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements The matters discussed in this news release may include forward-looking statements, which could involve a number of risks and uncertainties. When used in this press release, the words 'will,' 'believes,' 'intends,' 'anticipates,' 'expects' and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, such forward-looking statements. Except as expressly required by the federal securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update such factors or to publicly announce the results of any of the forward-looking statements.

Contact: Lesley Weisenbacher Vice President, Marketing 312-540-6623 [email protected] [Editorial queries for this story should be sent to [email protected]] ((Comments on this story may be sent to [email protected])) (c) 2012 Electronic News Publishing -

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]