Case Study: Hendrick Medical Center achieves timely neurology care and fewer canceled surgeries with lifeIMAGE

Improving access to imaging histories to ensure timely neurology care

Hendrick Medical Center, a 369‑bed not‑for‑profit hospital in Abilene, TX that sees about 270,000 outpatient visits annually and serves 22 counties, struggled with external imaging on patient‑provided CDs that were often unreadable or required proprietary viewers. Neurosurgeons risked last‑minute cancellations—after patients sometimes waited six weeks for appointments—because studies couldn’t be reliably opened, shared, or viewed across hospital locations. To address this, Hendrick implemented lifeIMAGE.

lifeIMAGE enabled instant upload of outside exams, a single zero‑download viewer, and network‑wide access so clinicians no longer had to transport CDs or import studies to PACS. As a result, teams share studies easily, consultations proceed without forcing patients to drive up to 160 miles round‑trip for replacement discs, fewer procedures are canceled, surgical suites stay utilized, and patient satisfaction and clinician efficiency have improved—delivering a positive ROI for Hendrick Medical Center.

Hendrick Medical Center

James Trammell

Neurosurgeon