HealthMark Acquires Purview: The End of CD-ROMs in Medical Imaging Is Nearing

The adoption of electronic medical image exchange remains slow. The vast majority of radiological exams are still shared via physical media, such as discs. A major healthcare data management company, the U.S.-based HealthMark Group—which has been headquartered in Dallas for 15 years—has just announced the acquisition of Purview to bring this sector into the era of instant cloud computing.

In summary: Key figures from the agreement

• 20 million: The number of medical records already secured by HealthMark Group.
• 98%: The exceptional customer retention rate reported by the publisher.
• 5 of the top 10: The number of U.S. pediatric hospitals already using Purview technology.

Why did HealthMark acquire Purview?

HealthMark has acquired Purview to permanently remove the main obstacle to the rapid sharing of medical records: the large file sizes of DICOM images (a compressed format for medical images). By integrating Purview’s cloud technologies, HealthMark enables healthcare professionals, insurers, and patients to instantly access medical imaging on a self-service basis, thereby accelerating clinical care and emergency diagnoses.

How does this acquisition change the field of medical imaging?

This technological integration is radically transforming the patient care experience. In practical terms, patients no longer need to physically carry their test results from one clinic to another, nor do they have to worry about losing them. Their digital images can be accessed in seconds via a highly secure cloud platform from any computer or mobile device.

Changes in usage: exam sharing before and after the merger

• Previously (traditional method): Patients had to wait for a CD-ROM or physical disc to be burned after their CT scan. They had to bring this physical medium with them to their specialist appointments, which carried a high risk of loss, scratches, or the disc being incompatible with the doctor’s computer.
• After (HealthMark & Purview unified solution): DICOM-format images are uploaded directly to a secure cloud as soon as the exam is complete. The attending physician, radiologist, and patient all have immediate, seamless, and paperless digital access, regardless of where the care was provided.

Impact on healthcare professionals

Purview’s cloud solutions simplify the integration, analysis, and sharing of imaging data, providing medical teams with critical productivity gains:

• Faster Diagnostics: Immediate access to radiology records to make better-informed medical decisions in emergency situations.
• Simplified collaboration: The ability to share large DICOM files with other remote specialists with a single click, without any technical barriers.
• Enhanced interoperability: Seamless integration that has already been proven in numerous university medical centers and the nation’s leading pediatric hospitals.

“The acquisition of Purview is a key step in our efforts to provide instant, self-service digital access to patient health data,” said Bart Howe, CEO of HealthMark. “Medical imaging has long been the primary barrier to rapid access to health information, due to the challenges associated with DICOM exchanges. Our investment in Purview will provide healthcare professionals, patients, and other stakeholders with a more comprehensive and immediate view of medical information, thereby accelerating care and ultimately improving patient health.”