Aidoc forms strategic alliance with Rad Partners, Hitachi deal finalized, plus more vendor news
Artificial intelligence firm Aidoc has inked a strategic partnership with one of the nation’s largest radiology practices, the two announced on Tuesday.
Radiology Partners and the Israel-headquartered vendor declined to disclose terms of the deal but said their alliance goes beyond a simple software installation. The two will work together to develop and refine new AI tools, using the provider’s portfolio of care sites across 30 states in the process.
Chairman and chief executive Rich Whitney noted that Rad Partners’ docs interpret almost 1 in 10 of all U.S. imaging studies. They see a huge opportunity through AI to multiply physicians’ skills and help to reduce costs while bolstering outcomes.
“AI has the potential to unlock enormous value for the entire healthcare ecosystem, and I believe our partnership with Aidoc will turn out to be the tipping point for AI in radiology, a medical specialty that has systemic influence on the overall delivery of patient care,” he said in an announcement.
Along with implementation, the two companies also will look to collaborate around data, post-market surveillance, marketing, distribution, physician education, training and feedback. The two said their alliance could affect upward of 40 million imaging exams annually, which they estimated is the “largest clinical deployment of AI in healthcare.”
Fujifilm completes Hitachi acquisition
Fujifilm has officially closed its acquisition of Hitachi’s line of imaging products, the two announced on March 31.
The $1 billion-plus deal was long in the works but delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the two hinted that they were nearing the finish line in February, hoping to close by the end of 2020’s first quarter.
Hitachi’s imaging business—offering electronic health record solutions, CT, MR, X-ray and ultrasound systems—will now operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Fujifilm. The deal was first announced back in December 2019.
Rapid fire
A few more vendor news items of note, in rapid fashion:
- Ambra Health recently inked a partnership with Eceptionist, allowing images to be uploaded, viewed and shared within the latter’s referral management platform.
- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration just cleared the Philips SmartCT 3D image acquisition, visualization and measurement software, officials announced Tuesday.
- Siemens recently raised $2.8 billion, taking a “last major step” toward its $16.4 billion acquisition of Varian Medical Systems.
And finally, GE Healthcare has expanded its ultrasound family with a new point-of-care system and AI offering, the firm announced March 30.
Marty Stempniak has covered healthcare since 2012, with his byline appearing in the American Hospital Association's member magazine, Modern Healthcare and McKnight's. Prior to that, he wrote about village government and local business for his hometown newspaper in Oak Park, Illinois. He won a Peter Lisagor and Gold EXCEL awards in 2017 for his coverage of the opioid epidemic.