Investor Health Evolution Partners says it is targeting medical imaging for investment because of rapid growth in its use, driven by new technology and increasing reliance on imaging as a standard of care. The company has announced its second investment in medical imaging: funding for Optimal Reading Service Group, a provider of medical imaging optimization services for hospitals, imaging centers and radiology groups. The investment will help Optimal expand throughout the United States and in select international markets.
The investor says in an announcement that it is targeting medical imaging because of rapid growth in the use of imaging, driven by new technology and increasing reliance on imaging as a standard of care. Teleradiology capabilities, the company says, have become widespread, dissolving historical geographic barriers to competition and causing the market for preliminary image interpretations to become commoditized.
Separately, the Society for Imaging Informatics in Medicine (SIIM) has agreed to support the World Health Imaging Alliance (WHIA) in delivering thousands of sustainable diagnostic digital imaging systems to developing communities across the globe.
WHIA says in an announcement that lack of coordination in efforts and funding for sustainable deployment of the affordable technology is why little progress has been made in spreading it, despite decades of effort to do so. Through WHIA, underserved communities can receive the WHIS-RAD, a digital system that requires no film and chemicals and can be operated by those having limited imaging experience. Each system includes an x-ray modality, computed radiography system, workstation with optional viewing stations, and add-on module for image and data storage.
- read the Investor Health announcement
- read the WHIA announcement