As SIIM 25 approaches, it’s an important moment to reflect on where Enterprise Imaging stands and where it’s headed. Current strategies are often tethered to outdated, PACS-centric infrastructure that limits flexibility, impedes interoperability, and makes innovation harder than it should be. In this blog, BridgeHead’s Ken Burton, National Leader, Enterprise Imaging and Data (U.S. and Canada) shares why these legacy models are increasingly misaligned with the needs of modern healthcare and how organizations can re-imagine Enterprise Imaging as a strategic foundation for the future – one that’s built on accessibility, scalability, and clinical value.
SIIM 25 is almost here: time to re-imagine Enterprise Imaging
As the healthcare imaging community gears up for SIIM 25, it’s clear we’ve reached a tipping point. The traditional, PACS-centric model is under strain – challenged by rising imaging volumes, an explosion of image-generating departments, and the growing demands of an AI-enabled, data-driven ecosystem. What once worked for radiology alone is now expected to serve dermatology, ophthalmology, pathology, cardiology, and more – and it’s not keeping up! Clinicians are often left without a complete view of the patient leading to delays, repeat imaging, and unnecessary costs. In short, the status quo isn’t sustainable. It’s time for a new approach. Or, as I prefer to say, it’s time to re-imagine Enterprise Imaging.
The status quo is fractured – if not broken!
For too long, imaging strategies have been held back by outdated infrastructure and vendor-driven data silos. PACS solutions were never designed to support true multi-disciplinary imaging – or to integrate across departments like pathology, ophthalmology, dermatology, and beyond. And the truth is many imaging systems still don’t talk to each other within a single facility – let alone across a broader health network. Sure, DICOM helped in some ways, but it also created new challenges (I once heard a well-respected imaging expert call DICOM “the most un-standard standard” – and, honestly, I don’t disagree).
As image volumes grow and fidelity improves, the demand for storage is exploding. If that storage is still tied directly to the PACS, it gets expensive… and fast. Not to mention inflexible. On top of that, switching imaging systems is still a painful, expensive process. Data migrations are time-consuming, resource-intensive, and disruptive to clinical workflows. And let’s not forget the downstream impact: when clinicians don’t have the full picture, they’re often forced to order duplicate scans – leading to wasted costs, delayed diagnoses, and increased clinical risk.
We must do better. And we can.
How PACS vendors tried to kill the independent vendor neutral archive (VNA)
One solution addressing these challenges is the independent vendor neutral archive (VNA). But over the last decade, many PACS vendors have worked to dilute – or quietly bury – the concept altogether. Why? Because a true VNA separates your data from their applications and storage. That threatens their control. An independent VNA breaks vendor lock-in and disrupts the recurring revenue tied to proprietary systems. And, yes, I keep saying “their” for a reason – it’s not about what’s best for patients or providers. It’s about protecting a business model! To be clear, I’m not anti-profit. But I am pro-choice and pro-flexibility. Healthcare organizations should have the freedom to choose what works best for their care teams and the communities they serve.
You might ask, “Don’t PACS vendors offer VNAs?” Technically, yes. But in most cases, those are really just PACS-tethered archives – still locked to the vendor’s ecosystem and far from neutral. Consider this: if you can’t replace your PACS without breaking your VNA, it’s not vendor neutral. It’s just rebranded lock-in.
The litmus test: is your VNA really vendor neutral?
Here’s a quick test: when your PACS/VNA contract is up for renewal, ask your vendor, “If I replace your PACS but keep the VNA, will it work seamlessly with a new PACS, RIS, and EHR?” If the answer involves workarounds, restrictions, or costly migrations, you’re not using a VNA. You’re just locked into another branded archive.
BridgeHead’s next-generation VNA, HealthStore®, continues to thrive because demand for truly independent, standards-based solutions is only growing. One customer has been using HealthStore since 2015 to manage imaging across radiology, cardiology, fetal medicine, and more. Over that period, they’ve changed PACS four times – all without needing major data migrations. The customer just pointed the new PACS at HealthStore, tuned it, and kept going. No downtime. No disruption.
At SIIM25, we’ll show why a next-gen, independent VNA (like HealthStore) might be the last imaging migration you’ll ever need; and how it’s time to challenge outdated assumptions about what Enterprise Imaging should be.
Re-imagining your Enterprise Imaging
At BridgeHead, we’ve long believed that data is the lifeblood of healthcare. It underpins everything – consultation, diagnosis, treatment, and referral. Data leads to information, information leads to knowledge, and knowledge drives better clinical decisions and, ultimately, better patient outcomes.
And if you still need convincing, just look at the numbers:
- Approximately 30% of the world’s data is generated by the healthcare industry
- That number is growing fast – 36% compound annual growth is expected in 2025
- According to Forbes, 90% of healthcare data is medical imaging
- HealthTech Magazine reports that imaging makes up 80% of all clinical content
- And in the U.S. alone, there were over 600 million imaging procedures last year.
So, yes, we already knew Enterprise Imaging is a cornerstone of modern healthcare – these stats just reinforce it. But it does raise the question: if imaging data is growing exponentially, why are so many providers still using yesterday’s strategies to manage it?
At SIIM25, we’ll be making the case that it’s time for healthcare organizations to take back control of their imaging data – and rethink how they manage, protect, and unlock its value. That means building a strategy that’s not just future-proof, but that actively solves the pain points of today.
Some of the areas we’ll be focused on include:
- Consolidating imaging data across the organization –DICOM and non-DICOM – into a standards-based, interoperable repository
- Preparing imaging data for AI, machine learning, and advanced analytics
- Enhancing clinical workflows through image-enabled EHR integration
- Protecting against system downtime, ensuring continuity of care even during planned or unplanned outages
- Safely retiring legacy imaging and clinical applications – while retaining the valuable information they contain.
It’s time to rethink Enterprise Imaging. And we’re ready to help.
SIIM25: time to rethink your imaging strategy
Healthcare organizations deserve better than piecemeal, department-by-department image management. The future of Enterprise Imaging is unified, accessible, interoperable, and intelligent.
At SIIM25, we’ll be continuing to challenge the status quo and making the case for why now is the time to rethink imaging strategy. It’s time to unlock the full potential of your imaging and associated data, not just for IT efficiency, but for better clinical and operational outcomes.
If you’re curious to learn more about how BridgeHead’s independent, next-generation VNA is paving the way forward, check out this quick three-minute read. You’ll see how our award-winning HealthStore® Clinical Data Repository goes beyond traditional VNA capabilities – bringing together imaging, clinical content, and long-term data management in a single, future-ready platform.
Let’s reimagine Enterprise Imaging – together.
If anything, I’ve said resonates with you, or if you emphatically disagree, I welcome your input and feedback. Feel free to email me at: ken.burton@bridgeheadsoftware.com. The BridgeHead team and I will be available at SIIM25 at booth #230.
Ken Burton has over 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry. Over the past 17 years, he has held a number of roles in services, sales and business development at top health tech companies, including GE, Fuji, and Aidoc. In addition, Ken has held leadership positions at prominent healthcare providers in the Pacific Northwest, such as UW Medicine, Providence, and Virginia Mason.
At BridgeHead, Ken is helping healthcare organizations across the U.S. and Canada to develop strategies to navigate the challenges of managing and leveraging their clinical data.
Ken lives in the Seattle area with his wife. He is the proud father of four adult children and now two granddaughters. Outside of work, Ken is an avid boater, skier and golfer.
Are you ready to re-imagine your Enterprise Imaging strategy?
