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Health System Consolidation, Mergers Impact PACS Vendor Selection

Organizations looking to invest in a new PACS should consider industry trends as well as peer organizations when selecting a vendor.

PACS

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By Elizabeth O'Dowd

- Healthcare organizations are looking to standardize and consolidate their picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) as health systems continue to merge and grow, according to a recent KLAS report.

PACS provide storage and convenient access to medical images such as ultrasounds, MRIs, CTs, and x-rays. PACS started to become popular during the transition from film images to digital files.  Since then, PACS have become more advanced and now allow clinicians to remotely access images, interface with EHRs, and enhance images to help with treatment decisions.

“With merger and acquisition activity among provider organizations on an upward trend, organizations are looking to standardize their technology wherever possible,” said the KLAS report. “As a result, even mature IT segments, such as the PACS market, are seeing high levels of IT purchasing.”