Epic releases Care Everywhere diagnostic image exchange to tackle healthcare's 'CD problem'
Epic released a new diagnostic image exchange solution that enables healthcare providers at Epic-connected health systems to retrieve and share diagnostic-quality medical images, such as CT scans, X-rays and MRIs, with a single click.
Epic, the healthcare technology company, has released a new solution called Care Everywhere to address the issue of healthcare providers struggling with interoperability, particularly in the realm of medical imaging. Millions of patients still rely on CDs to transport CT scans, MRIs, and X-rays from one provider to another, as these large image files are often stored in separate image archiving systems outside of electronic health records.
Epic's new diagnostic image exchange tool allows healthcare providers connected to Epic health systems to quickly retrieve and share diagnostic-quality medical images with a single click. The company unveiled the capability this month and made it available across its community, announcing the news ahead of its 2026 User Group Meeting at its headquarters in Verona, Wisconsin.
Using open image exchange standards and existing interoperability pipelines, Epic has expanded its Care Everywhere platform to include radiology images. This tool aims to reduce manual image transfers, enable clinicians to access prior scans more quickly, and ultimately prevent duplicate imaging, speed up diagnosis and treatment.
Matt Doyle, Epic's director of interoperability, explained that the goal is to ensure that when a patient arrives for a visit, whether for a specialist consult, a second opinion, or follow-up on a cancer diagnosis, the imaging studies done in the past are available to the provider for preparation and use during the visit. The Care Everywhere platform has been in use since 2008 and facilitates the exchange of 30 million patient charts daily, with half of those exchanges happening with other platforms.
Epic's diagnostic image exchange solution uses open standards, a significant departure from previous attempts that have been limited by proprietary formats. Doyle emphasized that the company's overarching goal is to create a pathway for other vendors and providers to adopt open image-sharing standards, positioning Epic-connected hospitals as early adopters.
Ultimately, Epic aims to create a more inclusive solution that can bring all health systems together, aligning with the federal Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA) initiative.
Written by urgent.news from Fierce Healthcare's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
