From tighter capital and operating budgets to staffing shortages, higher patient volumes, and an increased shift of complex cases to ambulatory surgery centers, providers are constantly seeking solutions that deliver speed, reliability, and quality without sacrificing patient care. These facilities face the challenge of standardizing workflows across multiple sites, training rotating staff efficiently, and keeping equipment performing optimally under growing demand. In this demanding environment, Carestream Health stands out as a partner that not only understands these operational constraints but actively engineers solutions to help overcome them, ensuring facilities can deliver superior medical image quality, enhanced patient experiences, and operational efficiency. From its roots in medical imaging, the company has built a reputation for excellence through innovation, workflow optimization, and the ability to adapt solutions to each client’s unique needs. As Kendall Ryerson, the company’s Vice President of Sales, North America, explains, the real secret lies in being big enough to deliver cutting-edge technology but nimble enough to customize it. “Carestream is the perfect size company to be world-renowned with industry-leading products and innovations, but not so big that we push a one-size-fits-all solution. We listen, we partner, and we work alongside our customers to achieve mutual goals,” says Kendall.

As more procedures migrate from hospitals to non-acute settings, these facilities are seeing increasingly complex cases. At this point, Carestream has responded by ensuring its portfolio is equipped with solutions that enhance efficiency and maintain consistent quality across multiple sites. By focusing on ease of use, workflow enhancements, and standardized user interfaces, the company helps healthcare systems train staff more quickly, minimize errors, and ensure uniform quality of care.

Delivering Exceptional Innovation

One standout innovation is Carestream’s DRX-LC single-shot long-length detector, which addresses common issues in imaging such as patient movement and image stitching errors. By capturing the full image in a single exposure, it improves speed and accuracy while reducing the need for repeat exposures—a benefit that directly supports industry-wide dose reduction initiatives. Carestream’s Focus 35/43 HD Detectors help improve the visualization of small objects and microstructures while delivering high-resolution imaging to aid in fast, confident diagnosis. Their robust design protects against drops and bumps, with an IP56 rating for added protection against dust and fluid ingress. “Not only do they help deliver the unparalleled performance you expect from Carestream, but their versatility—Focus HD Detectors are compatible with our rooms, mobiles, and retrofit systems, as well as both ImageView and Image Suite Software—can offer added value and convenience,” adds Ryerson.

The company’s products are built with extensive voice-of-customer input, ensuring that equipment design aligns with real-world clinical needs. This approach not only improves operational efficiency but also contributes to a better patient experience. “You wouldn’t think imaging equipment could play a part in patient experience, but it does. Modern, automated systems free clinicians to focus on the patient, explain procedures, and provide more personal care,” explains Kendall.

A Trusted Partner in Development

Carestream’s usability enhancements—such as motorization, automation, and auto-positioning—allow clinicians to spend more time with patients, improving comfort and trust during procedures. As ASCs continue to grow, Carestream is positioned as a trusted partner in their development. The company offers scalable imaging solutions designed to expand with a facility’s needs, helping to reduce the risk of equipment obsolescence. For multi-site operators, Carestream’s standardized platforms ensure clinicians moving between locations encounter consistent systems and workflows. This not only boosts staff confidence but also shortens training periods for new hires—a critical advantage in today’s competitive healthcare labor market.

As a pioneer, the company’s innovation strategy extends beyond hardware. Its recently launched Carestream 360º Analytics Dashboard enables healthcare providers to monitor uptime, manage assets, track repeat reject rates, and assess staff training needs—a data-driven approach that helps support better resource allocation and equipment management. The company is also investing in AI-driven features like Align Assist and their proprietary Smart Noise Cancellation: tools that can enhance image clarity while allowing for lower radiation doses, aligning with global efforts to improve patient safety and diagnostic accuracy.

A Culture of Service with Focus on Growth

While medical imaging is its primary focus, Carestream also applies its expertise in industrial coatings and non-destructive testing (NDT). In sectors ranging from aerospace safety to oil and gas pipeline inspection, Carestream’s imaging technologies help detect structural issues before they become catastrophic. This cross-industry knowledge sharing strengthens the company’s R&D and enriches the innovations brought back to the healthcare market. Also, from consultative sales teams that take time to understand each client’s unique needs to service engineers trained to maximize equipment uptime, Carestream’s human touch is a defining differentiator. “Our customers come back to us because of our people. We approach our relationships more like a family than just a business transaction, and that makes all the difference,” adds Kendall.

This culture of service is especially important in ambulatory centers that may not have in-house biomedical teams. Carestream’s OEM-trained service engineers step in to provide fast, expert support, keeping operations running smoothly and patient care uninterrupted. Carestream’s future is focused on continued expansion into high-growth imaging markets, integration of AI across its product lines, and deeper customer partnerships. New feature launches are planned for upcoming industry events, and the company remains committed to listening to its clients to shape the next generation of imaging solutions. By combining technological innovation with a deeply consultative approach, Carestream Health is not just keeping pace with the changes in healthcare—it is helping shape them. Whether it’s supporting an ASC through its first growth phase or delivering enterprise-level analytics across a multi-site health system, Carestream is committed to ensuring that imaging excellence translates into better care for every patient, everywhere.