Progress in Enterprise Imaging 2024

Advancing in enterprise imaging (EI) is a big area of focus for healthcare organizations. In fact, we find that two-thirds of the organizations interviewed by KLAS say they are likely to expand their VNA image storage or extend their universal viewer (UV) to additional service lines in the next two years.   

To share more about what KLAS is learning about the EI space today, we recently published an updated report, Enterprise Imaging 2024. Focusing on VNA and UV solutions, this report contains not only a wealth of information about vendor performance but also an analysis of progress in the EI market and where organizations’ future priorities lie.

Changes in the Market

At the time of our last report in December of 2022, KLAS saw big drops in EI vendor scores. The COVID-19 pandemic certainly took its toll on relationships as vendors were not able to get in front of customers, and the market saw a lot of turnover in both provider and vendor organizations. Providers felt that their vendors’ development slowed amid staff shortages and budget constraints. But, although the lingering effects of these challenges still exist in today’s market, the last year has brought some very positive changes.

It immediately stood out in the data for the new report that a number of vendors are making visible progress. We’re seeing a new energy around creating better relationships. Progressing vendors have begun to figure out how to start righting the ship; they’re innovating their products and helping their customers to better take advantage of new technology.

There is still room for improvement, especially among vendors whose scores still continue to drop, but the energy is really encouraging to see. We’re hopeful that we’ve made it past some of the bumps that held EI back and that this momentum will only continue.

Learnings for Providers

Every EI strategy is unique, and there is no single correct approach. What is universal is that success in EI requires substantial work and alignment from both vendors and providers to ensure both parties are working together toward the same goal. As strategies progress, it can be hugely helpful to see how your organization’s priorities align with the rest of the industry. The market context provided in this report is useful in this way; it shows providers now only where the industry is what it comes to EI but also where the industry is going.

Examining Priorities for the Future

This is the first EI report where we’ve been able to show a broader view of the market; we show which service lines have been adopted and what organizations are looking at adding to their strategies moving forward.  

This forward-looking data is a big part of the report and sheds a lot of light on what organizations want out of their EI solutions in the next two years. Service line expansion tops the list, followed by adopting new technologies such as AI and the cloud, optimizing existing workflows, consolidating or replacing legacy applications, and improving organizations’ current tech stacks.

The Same End Goal

Many provider organizations feel behind in their EI strategy when they talk to KLAS. The reality is that this is a progressing market, and if you have started down the road of EI, you are already further along than you think. Even advanced organizations are continuing to modify their strategies as legacy solutions are replaced or mergers and acquisitions require a reassessment of their imaging IT portfolios. Progress toward a successful EI strategy is a long road.

As we’ve said, everyone’s strategy might look a little different. But in the end, everyone has similar end goals. No matter the strategy and no matter the tools they’re using, providers want simplified workflows that allow access to patient data faster and better quality. Everyone wants to better enable clinicians to provide quality care. And that is a beautiful thing.

The insights shared in this report are intended to help you see where the market stands currently and to identify the vendors who may help you progress toward that vision. To learn more about the vendors covered and get a look at their performance in terms of meeting EI needs, we highly recommend reading the full report.

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