TeraMedica Inc.

TeraMedica, a division of Fujifilm Medical Systems USA, demonstrates Connext Mobile V2 and other new product features.

Fujifilm Medical Systems U.S.A. said it completed its acquisition of TeraMedica Inc., a global healthcare informatics company and a provider of vendor neutral, enterprise solutions. The acquisition will allow Fujifilm to offer the market a leading vendor neutral archiving (VNA) technology.

It’s funny how terms catch on. Sometimes it’s the result of an innovator’s brand. No one goes out to play flying disc — we play Frisbee. Sometimes it’s the result of simplification. Everyone in healthcare knows about PACS — even when many (if not most) don’t know what exactly PACS (picture archiving and communication system) means. Then there is that instance when a term is generally used but doesn’t necessarily fit — either by innovation or by general adoption.

The digitization of medical imaging at hospitals has come a long way since the early picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) of the 1990s, according to Eric Rice, chief technology officer for Mach7 Technologies. With more institutions investing in electronic medical records (EMR) and Meaningful Use criteria driving the push toward even better management and storage of patient images, the enterprise imaging strategy has evolved into a vital necessity for many healthcare organizations. This involves the handling of images not only across certain departments, but also across entire hospitals and healthcare networks. The value of developing an enterprise imaging strategy is inherent to any organization, said Rice, whether they are in the process of implementing their EMR platform or looking for ways to optimize it.

The 2014-15 U.S. News and World Report rankings of the nation’s Best Hospitals were recently released.