Merge Healthcare Launches New Business Unit to Automate Prior-Authorization and Improve Referral Success
April 09 2015 - 12:01PM
Merge Healthcare Incorporated (Nasdaq:MRGE), a leading provider of
innovative enterprise imaging, interoperability, and clinical
systems that seek to advance healthcare, today announced the launch
of a new business unit, iConnect Network Services, to deliver
interoperability services to healthcare enterprises seeking to
reduce the labor and overhead costs associated with
prior-authorization processes, improve physician engagement among
provider communities, and boost referral success. In an age of
consolidation, accountable care, and narrow networks, health
systems must have a better handle on the appropriateness and
efficiency of the most valuable referrals in their network.
"Physicians and administrative staff dedicate between 10 and 20
hours a week solely to manual authorization tasks. We believe that
thoughtful and seamless automation of the prior-authorization
process can quickly provide necessary information for physicians to
deliver appropriate care," said Steve Tolle, chief strategy officer
and president of iConnect Network Services at Merge Healthcare. "In
addition, roughly 50% of referrals never turn into a patient
appointment due to lost faxes and lack of patient follow-up. These
gaps represent a clear opportunity to improve care delivery and
ensure the appropriateness of all imaging referrals. iConnect
Network Services is designed to solve these key challenges within
the healthcare enterprise while leveraging our clients' existing IT
infrastructure."
"The introduction of iConnect Network Services to the market is
the culmination of more than a few years' worth of development and
strategic refinement," said Justin Dearborn, Merge chief executive
officer. "Today's announcement means that the entire suite of
iConnect offerings are fully available to both our installed base
of clients and those hospitals and health systems new to the
scalable, intuitive, and efficient advantages iConnect Network
Services accrues for their businesses," he continued.
Imaging Specialists of Charleston is one such client.
"At Imaging Specialists of Charleston, we strive to deliver
superior patient care and leverage advanced technology solutions to
achieve the best possible results," said Vicki Richter, imaging
center director at Imaging Specialists of Charleston. "We are
pleased to partner with Merge Healthcare to implement iConnect
Network Services in order to save our staff the time and costs
associated with manual prior-authorization, to increase access to
imaging data, and ultimately to improve the quality of care
delivery."
iConnect Network Services seeks to create a closed loop to
efficiently manage orders for imaging, to automate the
prior-authorization process, and to simplify the delivery of
imaging results to the ordering physician. iConnect Network
Services consists of three core offerings: iCNS Orders, iCNS
Authorize, and iCNS Results.
- iCNS Orders enables physicians to place
electronic orders easily, to document the appropriateness of the
order, and to reduce the volume of lost orders due to inefficient
processes and lack of follow-up.
- iCNS Authorize automates existing manual and
costly prior-authorization processes for hospitals and imaging
centers. In 81% of instances where claims are denied for imaging
orders, prior-authorization was either not obtained or not handled
properly.
- iCNS Results delivers imaging results to the
ordering physician within his or her existing EHR, ensuring ease of
physician engagement and improved care delivery.
To learn more about iConnect Network Services, visit
http://www.merge.com/Landing-Pages/iConnect-Network-Services.aspx
About Merge
Merge is a leading provider of innovative enterprise imaging,
interoperability and clinical systems that seek to advance
healthcare. 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. With solutions that have been
used by providers for more than 25 years, Merge is helping to
reduce costs, improve efficiencies and enhance the quality of
healthcare worldwide. For more information, visit merge.com and
follow us @MergeHealthcare.
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: Media Contact:
Michael R. Klozotsky
Vice President, Corporate Marketing
312.946.2535
Michael.Klozotsky@merge.com
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