Ambra Health

Ambra Health operates as a specialized software-as-a-service (SaaS) company focused on medical data and image management. The firm, originally founded as DICOM Grid in 2004 by Roger Bird, Shahram Partovi, and James Ramsey, rebranded to Ambra Health in 2016. The company's trajectory was significantly altered in October 2021 when it was acquired by Intelerad Medical Systems for a reported sum exceeding $250 million, contributing to a combined entity valued at $1.7 billion. Following the acquisition, Ambra's CEO, Morris Panner, transitioned to the role of President at Intelerad.

The company's business model is centered on providing a cloud-based platform for healthcare providers. This platform serves as a centralized and interoperable solution for storing, viewing, and sharing diagnostic imaging and other medical data. Clients include major health systems like Johns Hopkins Medicine and Memorial Hermann, as well as radiology practices, clinical research organizations, and subspecialty practices. Revenue is generated through subscriptions to its platform, which is priced based on the specific needs and scale of the client organization.

Ambra Health's core product is a cloud-native platform that functions as both a Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) and a Vendor Neutral Archive (VNA). This system is designed to eliminate the need for physical media like CDs by allowing for the secure, digital transfer of medical images and data between different locations and disparate EMR/EHR systems. Key features include a universal, web-based DICOM viewer, automated image routing, and patient portals that allow individuals to upload their own imaging histories from home. The platform is notable for its ability to handle both DICOM and non-DICOM data formats, such as JPEGs and documents, providing flexibility for clinical trials and research. A significant benefit for healthcare organizations is the platform's ability to create a single, unified repository for all imaging, accessible from any location, thereby improving collaborative care and administrative efficiency.

Keywords: medical imaging, cloud VNA, PACS, SaaS, health data management, interoperability, enterprise imaging, teleradiology, clinical research imaging, DICOM