Cerner Buys German PACS Firm

Cerner Corp., the leading US health IT supplier, is to acquire Image Devices GmbH, a German developer of picture archiving and communication systems, or PACS.

This transaction will promote the continued development and enhancement of Cerner’s PACS solutions and substantially increase Cerner’s presence in Europe. Image Devices is a picture archiving and communication system (PACS) software developer based near Frankfurt, Germany

The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Image Devices has supplied the image archive component of Cerner’s ProVision PACS since 1999. PACS allow medical images, such as MRI and CT scans, to be digitally stored and retrieved, improving the efficiency and quality of patient care in various hospital departments.

The majority of Image Devices’ PACS installations are in Germany, Switzerland and Austria — about 80 across Europe. Its image archive product, however, is installed in more than 30 U.S. hospitals.

"This acquisition is consistent with our focus on industry-leading imaging technologies and the global marketplace," said Trace Devanny, president of Cerner Corporation, who added the deal would increase Cerner’s presence in Europe.

"Medical images are an integral part of the patient’s electronic medical record. Bringing Image Devices into Cerner will help us to improve our electronic medical record capabilities," said Devanny.

"Cerner shares our vision that an integrated solution – which combines image data, clinician workflow and patient medical information – allows hospitals to provide higher quality, safer and more efficient care," said Gerhard Kacmaczyk, managing director of Image Devices.

Image Devices will now be known as "Image Devices, a Cerner Company," and the PACS solutions will be sold under the Cerner ProVision PACS brand name in both the U.S. and globally.