Optimal Radiology Joins With ADI

In an effort to create an “integrated national imaging group,” Optimal Radiology of Nashville, Tenn., joined with Advanced Diagnostic Imaging (ADI) to form Optimal Radiology Partners (ORP). The newly formed entity will continue to pursue the Optimal branding initiatives while focusing primarily on large national hospital systems. “We will still have ADI and Optimal Radiology, but for a very specific audience and market we are creating a joint venture that will take the best of both companies for a focused effort,” says John Grimes, CEO, Optimal Radiology. “We share the same vision, and we are not worried about the operational or cultural aspects of the partnership.” Grimes believes that Optimal’s large regional footprint, combined with ADI’s advanced technology and performance metrics will serve large health care systems particularly well. Excellent web-based RIS/PACS, integrated with PowerScribe voice recognition, are all expected to buoy technical capabilities that were already solid. With a practice that includes 36 subspecialized radiologists and the region’s largest network of outpatient imaging centers, ADI uses technology to enhance quality and operational efficiency. Both sides believe the partnership will leverage ADI’s technology platform (including a common worklist) with Optimal’s national network to increase access to subspecialty coverage. Michael Moreland, CEO of ADI, and Grimes agree that the merger is part of a trend that will likely grow stronger due to specific market conditions. “We are looking at the edge of a disruptive time in health care,” muses Grimes. “Executives are asking, ‘Who can we partner with that allows us to drive quality and cost effectiveness?’ Unequivocally, you are seeing the same thing in the hospital merger space. As hospitals continue to be under significant pressure to reduce costs and drive quality metrics, we are well positioned to offer solutions.” In addition to making the ORP technology platform available to Optimal’s existing hospital clients, the joint venture will serve large national and regional health systems, and plans to partner with independent radiology groups that may benefit from additional subspecialty expertise and broader technological capabilities. “One of our objectives is to create an opportunity for other, smaller radiology groups to have some solutions to their challenges when they need to offer more services and/or create a different operating platform,” says Grimes.