CHICAGO, April 2, 2013 -- Merge Healthcare Incorporated (Nasdaq:MRGE), a leading provider of clinical systems and innovations that seek to transform healthcare, today announced that it has commenced a cash tender offer (the "Tender Offer") for any and all of its $252,000,000 outstanding aggregate principal amount of 11.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2015 (CUSIP Nos. 589499AB8 and 589499AA0) (the "Notes"). The purpose of the Tender Offer is to improve Merge's financial position by refinancing its indebtedness outstanding under the Notes at a lower interest rate.

In the imaging community, we are beyond well-versed in the hassles, inefficiencies and costs associated with CD-based image sharing. A feature published April 1 in The Wall Street Journal examined the RSNA Image Share through the lens of a 5-year patient and her family.

Three practices in N.Y. have installed Novarad PACS.

Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center in Akron, Ohio, has purchased a Carestream Vue PACS and 14 Carestream and Quantum DR systems.

The handling of outside imaging studies presents a dilemma for trauma centers that could disrupt workflow, raise costs and pose a medicolegal quandary if handled ineffectively, according to an article published online Feb. 14 in the Journal of the American College of Radiology.

Radiologie DIX30, a private imaging center located in the Montreal suburb of Brossard, installed Intelerad Medical Systems’ IntelePACS, and the system went live on the center’s opening day on Jan. 15.

Graham Hospital, a community hospital in Canton, Ill., has selected Merge Healthcare’s iConnect Enterprise Clinical Platform and the Merge Honeycomb Archive to enable enterprise-wide imaging.

Sectra has signed a seven-year contract in the U.K. to supply Sectra PACS to the Salisbury, Wight and South Hampshire Domain NHS Trust (SWASH) consortium.