OREM, UT – A new KLAS report finds that providers are looking for vendors that offer smooth integration between a radiology information system (RIS) and a picture archiving and communication system (PACS). To achieve that integration, some providers are willing to sacrifice functionality.

KLAS spoke with more than 500 provider facilities about their RIS and PACS vendors for its report, Ambulatory RIS/PACS: Integrating Provider Needs.

[See also: KLAS: DR Systems top PACS vendor for acute care hospitals.]
 
"Integration means increased provider satisfaction when looking at in the combined RIS/PACS markets," said Monique Rasband, KLAS research director and author of the report. "However,there are a couple of exceptions to that rule. Single-side vendors that offer only one side of a RIS or PACS solution like MedInformatix and Intelerad do exceptionally well in the RIS and PACS markets, respectively. Because they do not need to focus on integrating a RIS and PACS solution, single-side vendors can hone in on functionality."

Providers say they're also very satisfied with vendors offering a single-database RIS/PACS. Vendors such as CoActiv, DR Systems, and Infinitt offer the perks of tight integration-including easy maintenance, consistent look and feel of the PACS and RIS, and, in some cases, lower cost. CoActiv is the top scoring PACS vendor in the report andInfinitt moved up seven spots this year to take the number two spot in the PACS market.

[See also: PACS adoption has reached 'mature stage,' study says.]

According to the report, vendors that offer RIS and PACS on a separate database have more trouble with integration, generally speaking, and providers report being less impressed with them. For example, GE and Agfa have yet to achieve a level of integration that providers are happy with, KLAS finds. Agfa is the most vulnerable PACS vendor, and GE is the most vulnerable RIS vendor. The report indicates that not only do these vendors struggle to integrate their RIS and PACS, but the service is below par as well.

Fuji bucks the trend, however, and "wows" providers in both the RIS and PACS market, according to KLAS, taking second place in RIS and third place in PACS. Though not on a single-database, providers feel that it performs similarly to a single-database system.

Market consolidation and poor vendor performance are driving nearly one in ten providers to switch vendors, KLAS finds. Other providers are in a holding pattern due to uncertainty in the market. In the future providers are concerned with seeing some new development from their vendors.

"Providers want to see vendors adding new modules like mammography viewing, and they want good Web-based functionality-as well as upgrades that come out on time and are well tested," said Rasband.

Twenty-one vendors are fully rated in the KLAS report, including: Agfa, Aspyra, Avreo, Carestream, CoAvtiv, DR Systems, eRAD, FUJIFILM, GE Healthcare, Infinitt, Intelerad, McKesson, Merge (AMICAS), MedInformatix, NovaRad, Philips, RamSoft, ScImage, Sage, Sectra, Viztek. Early data vendors include: BRIT Systems, Digisonics, Epic, InStar, Siemens, and Swearingen.

Learn more about Ambulatory RIS/PACS: Integrating Provider Needs here.