Seth Koeppel is a representative from Us2.ai, an AI-powered echocardiography analysis platform that automates cardiac measurements to reduce manual workload and improve reporting efficiency.

Wesley Furnace represents Merge, a leading cardiovascular imaging and information management platform with a large installed base across hospital networks and health systems.

 

 

What was the synthesis behind this partnership, what does it mean, and what exactly are you doing?

Seth Koeppel, Us2.ai: For AI to truly bring value to clinicians, it has to integrate seamlessly into the tools they already use. I always use the CarPlay analogy, we want the AI to work in the background so users don't have to make extra clicks or log into additional systems. They scan, the AI processes the images, and the results appear natively inside Merge as part of their existing workflow.

 

From the perspective of maybe clinicians who are working with that, such as the team at Christ Hospital Network, what does that look like in terms of clinical workflow efficiency?

Seth: With AI running in the background, sonographers no longer need to make measurements manually. They can focus entirely on image quality. By the time they've finished the scan, wiped down the patient and probe, and seen the patient out, the AI has already processed everything and populated the results in Merge. The technician can then sit down at a workstation with a proper monitor and good ergonomics to review the AI results, rather than hunching over a machine. That's a much safer and healthier experience for echo techs.

 

Could you tell us a little bit more about how Merge’s side of this integration helps clinicians?

Wesley Furnace, Merge: I mean, Us2.ai has great AI insight right, but how do you envelop that into a clinical workflow that is reasonable for a physician that’s not going to slow them down?

Clinicians are already being asked to do more with the same, or fewer, resources. The last thing we want is to slow them down. By pulling AI insights directly into their existing workflow, we help them work faster, more efficiently, and ultimately deliver better care to patients.

 

For the clinicians out there who don’t really know about this, what is one thing that Merge and Us2.ai would like for them to takeaway?

Wesley: That both Merge and Us2.ai genuinely understand the challenges clinicians face today. We're on their side, and on the enterprise side, and we're committed to building solutions that are workflow-efficient and truly relevant to their day-to-day. With both Merge and Us2.ai working together, I believe we can improve their efficiency!

 

For Us2.ai, what were some of the thought processes behind why you specifically partnered with Merge?

Seth: Merge you know, is best in class right? They have a huge footprint, huge installed base. Instead of us going to every hospital individually and trying to pull AI through, it was easier to integrate it into a system that already has a huge install base users. This is literally like flipping a switch, we can just turn the AI on.

There really isn’t a big lift, users do not have to do anything extra, they’re already used to working with Merge, it (Us2.ai) just seamlessly integrates. We just turn it on and unlock it for them.

 

For all the cardiac imagers out there, and cardiologists, what would you like them to know?

Seth: Stop making measurements manually! We all know the physical toll that sonographers endure: the neck pain, back pain, shoulder strain. Think of Us2.ai as hiring an assistant to handle that heavy lifting so you can focus on what your training is really for: critical thinking, better imaging, and better outcomes for patients.

 

Wesley: From Merge's perspective, the key is the depth of integration. We've embedded Us2.ai's solution directly into the Merge platform so clinicians can see AI insights within their native viewer without leaving their CVIS, switching systems, or logging in anywhere else. The feedback from clinicians so far has been really positive.

 

Interested in bringing AI-powered echo analysis into your clinical workflow? Learn more about the Us2.ai and Merge integration or request a demo to see it in action.

Explore user feedback on Merge and Us2.ai partnership

 

About Merge

Merge by Merative empowers healthcare organizations with advanced medical imaging solutions to enhance workflows, optimize care delivery, and improve patient outcomes. Trusted by 6 of the 10 largest U.S. health systems and built on a cloud-native foundation, Merge’s portfolio includes solutions for Vendor-Neutral Archive (VNA), PACS, Workflow Orchestration, Cardiology and Hemodynamics, and Digital Pathology. Learn more at merative.com/merge.

About Us2.ai

Us2.ai is a pioneer in the development of AI technology for cardiovascular care. The company’s mission is to leverage advanced AI algorithms to assist healthcare professionals in diagnosing and treating heart disease more accurately and efficiently. Us2.ai’s solution is FDA cleared and designed to integrate seamlessly into clinical workflows, providing valuable insights that improve patient care and outcomes.