Merge, athenahealth Announce Strategic Partnership

Merge Healthcare, the Chicago-based imaging informatics software provider, is partnering with athenahealth, a Watertown, Mass.-based provider of cloud-based services for electronic health records (EHRs), practice management, and care coordination.

athenahealth will integrate Merge's iConnect Network with its national cloud-based platform, enabling athenahealth clients to receive and view exam results, diagnostic quality images and other critical patient information within the athenaClinicals EHR workflow. The partnership will aim to support advanced interoperability between radiologists and providers by decreasing duplicate tests and radiation exposure, improving patient outcomes and increasing physician satisfaction while reducing the cost of care, according to Merge officials.

With the new iConnect Network, Merge is now able to deliver reports directly into athenaClinicals, athenahealth's EHR service, giving athenaClinicals' users real-time access to view important diagnostic information, such as imaging studies and interpretations, within their existing EHR workflow. With meaningful use Stage 2 imaging requirements, Merge and athenahealth's partnership will aim to help community physicians attest to and receive incentives quickly and cost effectively, Merge officials say.

In an exclusive with Healthcare Informatics back in August, Steven Tolle, senior vice president and chief product officer of Merge, spoke of the company’s prospects. He said the company was bullish on its opportunities in relation to meaningful use and interoperability.