Merge Healthcare, the Chicago-based provider of enterprise imaging and interoperability solutions, and Sacramento, Calif.-based Ophthalmic Imaging Systems (OIS), announced today the completion of Merge’s acquisition of OIS.

[See also: Ophthalmic Imaging Systems buys bankrupt EMR vendor AcerMed.]

Merge Healthcare will add OIS’ ophthalmic imaging and informatics solutions, including a single platform electronic health record and practice management system, said Merge Healthcare CEO Jeff Surges.

It will also add OIS’ digital imaging management solution and a modular imaging device that can capture images of both the anterior and posterior segments of the eye. Merge Healthcare already provides image interoperability solutions for radiology, cardiology, orthopaedics and surgery.

“This is an exciting time for Merge as demand for ophthalmic imaging solutions has increased due to factors such as an aging population, early disease recognition, and the growing need for portable diagnostic equipment,” Surges said. “Plus, we are now in a unique position to capitalize on the growing EHR market specific to image-intensive specialties.”

[See also: Ophthalmologists develop MU checklist for their specialty.]

With regard to the growing EHR market for specialties, in July, the American Academy of Ophthalmology  created an EHR checklist to help ophthalmologists comply with meaningful use. The list is "the first of its kind" for specialties, according to the academy, which plans to ask EHR companies to show how their systems match up against the list of essential and desirable features.

Surges said the OIS acquisition would help Merge Healthcare to create “a more effective and efficient electronic healthcare experience across an even wider range of image-intensive specialties.”

“In terms of client growth, it will provide us with significant opportunities in 2012 and beyond as we can now provide our industry-leading image interoperability solutions to new markets,” said Surges.

The merger will bring together OIS’ client base of more than 2,000 sites, representing more thanr 60 percent of the top ophthalmic institutions in the United States with Merge’s client base of 1,500 hospitals and 4,000 clinics and practices.

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