Enterprise Imaging Landscape Shifts: Agfa Surges, GE Gains Ground
Table of Contents
- 1. Enterprise Imaging Landscape Shifts: Agfa Surges, GE Gains Ground
- 2. AgfaS Impressive Turnaround
- 3. GE HealthCare’s Path to Recovery
- 4. Sectra and Visage: Rising Contenders
- 5. Cloud Adoption and Service Line Expansion
- 6. long-Term Trends in Enterprise Imaging
- 7. Frequently Asked questions About Enterprise Imaging
- 8. How are KLAS reports different from typical vendor rankings?
- 9. KLAS Insights: Enterprise Imaging Leaders Make Significant Strides
- 10. Understanding the KLAS Landscape for Enterprise Imaging
- 11. Key Players and Their Recent Performance
- 12. the Rise of AI in Enterprise Imaging
- 13. Interoperability and the Importance of Standards
- 14. Benefits of Investing in Leading Enterprise Imaging Systems
- 15. practical Tips for selecting an Enterprise Imaging Solution
- 16. Real-World Example: Cleveland Clinic’s Imaging Informatics Strategy
September 9, 2025 – The Enterprise Imaging (EI) market is undergoing a noticeable reshuffle, driven by evolving customer expectations and vendor performance, according to fresh data. Agfa HealthCare is experiencing a revival, while GE HealthCare is showing signs of stabilization, impacting purchasing decisions and future strategies for healthcare systems nationwide.
AgfaS Impressive Turnaround
Agfa HealthCare’s enterprise imaging VNA has witnessed a remarkable 13-point increase in customer satisfaction. This surge, coupled with strong performance from the XERO Viewer, has earned Agfa the coveted “Best in KLAS” recognition for 2025. Customers highlight improved Electronic Health Record (EHR) integration, more reliable web viewing capabilities, and enhanced quality assurance as key factors in this turnaround. A clearer strategic vision regarding cloud and Artificial Intelligence (AI) development has also contributed to growing confidence.
GE HealthCare’s Path to Recovery
GE HealthCare’s Global Viewer has improved by over six points compared to 2024, thanks to upgrades in functionality and the upgrade process. This progress has prompted some hospitals to postpone planned replacements of their existing systems. However, challenges remain, especially regarding ticket resolution, especially related to the VNA component. Approximately half of surveyed GE HealthCare sites expressed varying degrees of dissatisfaction with support responsiveness.
Sectra and Visage: Rising Contenders
Sectra’s VNA, frequently enough packaged with its PACS solutions, is currently being evaluated in over half of all active VNA purchase considerations, demonstrating its growing appeal. Its ability to connect with diverse service lines further enhances its attractiveness. Sectra’s UniView, while useful for referential viewing, currently has limited data available for KLAS scoring. visage Imaging’s diagnostic viewer continues to gain traction as a replacement for legacy PACS systems, prized for its speed and advanced workflow features.The company is actively developing a VNA, with discussions underway with several potential customers, even though performance data remains preliminary.
Cloud Adoption and Service Line Expansion
Cloud migration in healthcare imaging is moving beyond initial pilot programs. Currently, 12% of respondents report live cloud deployments, with an additional 4% having signed contracts but still in the implementation phase. Nearly one-third anticipate migrating to the cloud within the next one to two years, driven primarily by internal strategic goals rather than vendor pressure.
Expansion into new service lines continues to be a priority for healthcare providers. Over half now store Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) images, and 41% store images from GI, ENT, and surgical scopes. Though, the adoption of natural-light wound and dermatology imaging remains relatively low, and pathology digitization lags behind other areas. Most universal viewers are used for referential viewing across the enterprise, though Visage and GE HealthCare are increasingly utilized as primary diagnostic viewers.
Here’s a comparison of key VNA and Universal Viewer scores:
| Vendor | VNA Score | Universal Viewer Score |
|---|---|---|
| Fujifilm (Synapse VNA) | 88.4 | N/A |
| Merge by Merative (Merge VNA) | 87.4 | N/A |
| AGFA | 74.9 | 90.0 (XERO Viewer) |
| GE HealthCare | N/A | 71.5 (Universal Viewer) |
| Mach7 (eUnity) | N/A | 83.6 |
| Visage 7 | N/A | 88.5 |
Did You Know? Cloud VNA adoption is accelerating, with almost 30% of organizations planning migration within the next 24 months.
Customer sentiment varies. merge users report consistent VNA performance and improved training resources. Hyland (Acuo/NilRead) and Mach7 VNA users have expressed concerns about slower feature enhancements and support responsiveness. Fujifilm customers are seeking greater clarity regarding future roadmap development beyond radiology and cardiology, while GE HealthCare is working to address existing functionality gaps.
Pro Tip: Prioritize vendors with a demonstrated commitment to responsive support and a clear, pragmatic cloud strategy when evaluating enterprise imaging solutions.
“Enterprise Imaging success now hinges on execution-reliable upgrades, responsive support, and cross-service-line viewing tied to a pragmatic cloud plan,” emphasizes the KLAS report.
long-Term Trends in Enterprise Imaging
The enterprise imaging market is continually evolving, driven by several key factors. These include the increasing volume of medical images, the need for improved workflow efficiency, and the growing demand for cloud-based solutions. The integration of AI and machine learning is also poised to transform the field, enabling more accurate diagnoses and personalized treatment plans. Expect to see continued consolidation among vendors and a greater focus on interoperability and data sharing.
The shift towards value-based care is also influencing enterprise imaging strategies. Healthcare organizations are increasingly focused on demonstrating the value of imaging services and reducing costs. This is leading to greater demand for solutions that can help improve clinical outcomes and optimize resource utilization.
Frequently Asked questions About Enterprise Imaging
- What is enterprise Imaging? Enterprise Imaging encompasses the management of medical images across the entire healthcare ecosystem, from acquisition to archiving and viewing.
- Why is VNA critically important in Enterprise imaging? A Vendor Neutral Archive (VNA) provides a centralized repository for all medical images, regardless of the originating system, facilitating interoperability and data sharing.
- What role does cloud technology play in Enterprise Imaging? Cloud-based solutions offer scalability, cost savings, and improved accessibility for medical images.
- How is AI impacting Enterprise Imaging? AI is being used to automate tasks, improve image quality, and assist radiologists in making more accurate diagnoses.
- What are the key considerations when selecting an Enterprise Imaging solution? Key factors include interoperability,scalability,security,and vendor support.
- What is the current state of cloud adoption in Enterprise Imaging? Cloud adoption is growing, with a significant number of organizations planning to migrate to the cloud within the next few years.
- How are service lines expanding within Enterprise Imaging? Healthcare providers are increasingly storing images from a wider range of service lines, including POCUS, GI/ENT, and pathology.
What challenges is your organization facing with its current enterprise imaging system? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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How are KLAS reports different from typical vendor rankings?
KLAS Insights: Enterprise Imaging Leaders Make Significant Strides
Understanding the KLAS Landscape for Enterprise Imaging
KLAS Research, a leading healthcare IT data provider, consistently shapes the conversation around vendor performance. Their reports aren’t just rankings; they offer granular insights into what healthcare organizations actually experience with various enterprise imaging solutions. Recent KLAS findings highlight significant movement among leaders, driven by evolving needs in medical imaging informatics, PACS systems, and radiology data systems (RIS). This article dives into those strides, focusing on key players and emerging trends.
Key Players and Their Recent Performance
Several vendors consistently appear at the top of KLAS reports for enterprise imaging. Hear’s a breakdown of recent performance, based on publicly available KLAS data and industry analysis:
GE Healthcare: Continues to be a dominant force, notably strong in integrated solutions encompassing advanced visualization, workflow management, and AI-powered imaging. Their focus on interoperability and cloud-based offerings is resonating with larger health systems.
Philips: Demonstrates consistent strength in cardiac imaging and oncology imaging, with a growing presence in neurology imaging. Philips’ commitment to innovation in areas like image-guided therapy is a key differentiator.
Siemens Healthineers: A strong contender, particularly noted for its robust MRI and CT imaging capabilities. They are actively expanding their digital health portfolio,integrating imaging with other clinical data.
Agfa Healthcare: maintains a solid position, especially within smaller to medium-sized hospitals, offering a thorough suite of imaging solutions at a competitive price point.
Canon Medical Systems: Gaining traction with its innovative CT technology and commitment to reducing radiation dose. They are also investing heavily in AI applications for image analysis.
These vendors aren’t static; KLAS reports show shifts based on specific categories like PACS replacement, vendor support, and implementation timelines.
the Rise of AI in Enterprise Imaging
Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a futuristic concept in medical imaging; it’s a present-day reality. KLAS research consistently shows increasing adoption of AI-powered imaging tools for:
Image Enhancement: Improving image quality and reducing noise.
Automated Detection: Identifying potential anomalies like nodules or fractures.
Workflow Prioritization: Flagging critical cases for immediate review.
Quantitative Imaging: Providing precise measurements for disease monitoring.
Vendors integrating AI effectively are seeing significant gains in KLAS scores, particularly in categories related to clinical efficiency and diagnostic accuracy. The integration of machine learning algorithms is becoming a crucial factor for hospitals evaluating new imaging platforms.
Interoperability and the Importance of Standards
Interoperability remains a critical challenge in healthcare IT. KLAS reports emphasize the importance of vendors adhering to industry standards like DICOM (digital Imaging and communications in Medicine) and HL7 (Health Level seven).
Seamless Data Exchange: The ability to share images and reports effortlessly between different systems is paramount.
Vendor Neutral archives (VNA): VNAs are gaining popularity as a way to consolidate images from multiple sources, improving access and reducing storage costs.
Cloud-Based Solutions: Cloud platforms can facilitate interoperability by providing a central repository for imaging data.
KLAS data reveals that organizations prioritizing interoperable imaging solutions experience fewer integration headaches and improved clinical workflows.
Benefits of Investing in Leading Enterprise Imaging Systems
Choosing the right enterprise imaging system can yield substantial benefits:
Improved Diagnostic Accuracy: Advanced visualization tools and AI algorithms can definitely help radiologists detect subtle abnormalities.
Enhanced Clinical Workflows: streamlined workflows reduce turnaround times and improve efficiency.
Reduced Costs: Optimized storage, reduced film usage, and improved efficiency can lower overall costs.
Better Patient Care: Faster and more accurate diagnoses lead to better patient outcomes.
Increased Radiologist Satisfaction: User-friendly interfaces and efficient tools improve radiologist productivity and job satisfaction.
practical Tips for selecting an Enterprise Imaging Solution
Navigating the enterprise imaging market can be complex. Here are some practical tips:
- define Your Needs: Clearly identify your organization’s specific requirements, considering factors like size, specialty, and existing infrastructure.
- Prioritize Interoperability: Ensure the solution supports industry standards and can integrate with your existing systems.
- Evaluate AI Capabilities: Assess the vendor’s AI roadmap and the potential benefits for your clinical workflows.
- Check KLAS Research: Review the latest KLAS reports to understand vendor performance and customer satisfaction.
- Request Demonstrations: schedule demos with multiple vendors to see the solutions in action.
- Consider Total Cost of Ownership: Factor in not only the initial purchase price but also ongoing maintenance, support, and training costs.
Real-World Example: Cleveland Clinic’s Imaging Informatics Strategy
Cleveland Clinic has been a leader in adopting advanced imaging informatics solutions. their strategy focuses on integrating imaging data with other clinical information to create a comprehensive patient record. They’ve implemented a robust *V