RedSalud consolidates imaging across Chile’s largest private healthcare network with AGFA HealthCare Enterprise Imaging.

The single, centralized platform in the cloud supports RedSalud’s IT strategy, unifying imaging workflows and services across the network’s hospitals and clinics nationwide.

“At RedSalud, we needed a single imaging system that could support all our hospitals and clinics across Chile and deliver the reliability we were missing, while meeting our goal of moving all our systems fully into the cloud. AGFA HealthCare brought the right people, the right technology, and the flexibility to make it happen,” starts Daniel de la Maza, CIO of RedSalud, Chile.

A unified strategy across an extensive geography

RedSalud is the largest private healthcare provider in Chile, operating 9 hospitals, 27 clinics and 40 dental centers across the country. “Chile is a very long yet narrow country, which creates unique challenges for consolidating systems,” comments Mr. de la Maza. The network started out as a group of independent healthcare providers under a single financial company. Each operated autonomously, with its own decision-making processes, administration, policies and IT strategies.

Mr. de la Maza joined RedSalud eight years ago with the goal of defining a unified IT strategy for the entire group. The principal aim was to consolidate all of the independent providers into a single, integrated healthcare network. For IT, the strategy has centered on consolidating and modernizing systems.

“We prioritized a cloud-first approach,” Mr. de la Maza explains. “About eight years ago, we recognized that we needed to transition from the smaller, more localized systems our hospitals were using to modern systems and platforms we could use across the entire network. For image management, we initially went with the vendor that was already being used by most of our hospitals. But the solution wasn’t workable. In fact, of all the systems we were modernizing and unifying, image management gave me the most headaches! Cloud wasn’t even on the table for discussion at that point, because the system just didn’t work.”

Not just stability: service matters

In addition to the increasing problems with platform stability and uptime as the system was scaled up, the vendor moved their support location outside of Chile: a significant red flag for Mr. de la Maza. “As anticipated, the service quality declined with that move. They offered us a new platform, claiming it would ‘solve all our problems’. However, I concluded that if a new system were to be implemented, all available alternatives in the market should first be evaluated.”

“We had a clear list of requirements that we applied to all the potential vendors: a modern system that could support our entire network, handle 1.5 million studies per year, deliver reliable service, and be locally present in Chile. AGFA HealthCare, which was already present in some of the network’s hospitals, presented us with a solution that met all those needs. They delivered answers to every concern we raised. When that happens, the choice becomes clear.”

“We all know where we stand”: transparency and accountability

After an intensive evaluation process lasting more than a year, RedSalud and AGFA HealthCare signed an extensive contract covering not only the solution’s functionality but also service level agreements and accountability for both infrastructure and service. Under the agreement, all infrastructure and service are the responsibility of AGFA HealthCare. “This means there are no ‘gray areas’ in terms of accountability: we all know where we stand. There are no doubts about who is responsible for what,” Mr. de la Maza highlights.

With the agreement finalized, the nationwide rollout began. Implementation followed a phased approach, beginning with the outpatient and day clinics before moving into the network’s nine hospitals. “We deployed Enterprise Imaging site by site. Each clinic took about a week to complete, while the hospitals took a bit longer due to their size and the need to integrate with different EHR systems. Overall, the process has been remarkably smooth,” notes Mr. de la Maza.

One platform, connected care

RedSalud’s Enterprise Imaging platform brings together all the components needed for a modern, scalable imaging environment. The solution includes Enterprise Imaging for Radiology, the Vendor Neutral Archive (VNA), the XERO® Universal Viewer, business intelligence tools, and support for the patient portal. It also incorporates Augmented Intelligence capabilities to enhance efficiency and diagnostic support. With every site connected to the same system, imaging data and reports are securely available across the healthcare network, supporting collaboration and continuity of care.
Built on AGFA HealthCare’s global expertise, the system is designed to support RedSalud’s national, centralized architecture and future growth as the network expands its footprint and patient volume. To substantiate this, AGFA HealthCare conducted detailed scalability simulations—testing double and triple the current imaging volume—and incorporated the resulting requirements directly into the agreement.

Beyond the technology, AGFA HealthCare’s local presence ensures responsive, in-country service, with support always close at hand. RedSalud’s internal change management team worked closely with AGFA HealthCare on training, tailoring the approach for each site, while the familiarity of many Chilean radiologists with AGFA HealthCare systems helped reduce the learning curve and support quick adoption.

Cloud-ready, with a flexible approach

A cornerstone of the project’s success has been the move to a fully cloud-based architecture. “Few vendors in the region were already working with cloud. AGFA HealthCare was very flexible, and willing to sit down at the table with us and Google to make everything work the way we wanted. They delivered a single, centralized platform in the cloud for all hospitals and clinics: a more demanding architecture, given the data volumes, but one that aligns with our strategy.”

100% of imaging operations are now running in the cloud with no issues, and the users are providing positive feedback, Mr. de la Maza describes.

A roadmap for partnership and growth

With the nationwide implementation nearing completion, RedSalud is already looking ahead. “We know the Enterprise Imaging platform can handle our growth, because we’ve already planned and tested for it,” says Mr. de la Maza. He values AGFA HealthCare’s clear product roadmap, highlighting cloud, AI and workflow innovation.

Just as important is the two-way nature of the relationship: RedSalud shares its experience with potential AGFA HealthCare clients in the region, while trusting AGFA HealthCare to continue supporting and evolving the solution to meet their needs. “We know we have a partner that will stand with us as we grow,” he explains.

“I would absolutely recommend AGFA HealthCare to other healthcare providers and networks. The product is world-class, the governance of our project is solid, the people involved are the right ones, the strategy is sound, the technical execution is strong. I believe that is why we have been able to achieve such good results,” he concludes.

The AGFA HealthCare solution:

• Enterprise Imaging for Radiology:
  This unified radiology platform enables radiologists to work at the top of their craft, with near-real-time access to images, powerful diagnostic tools, shared workflows across sites, and enhanced collaboration.
• XERO^® Universal Viewer:
  Offering a 2025 Best in KLAS^® viewing experience and requiring no software downloads, this intuitive viewer allows clinicians to quickly and securely view medical images and reports from any location directly in the EMR, supporting faster, more informed decision-making.
• Enterprise Imaging VNA:
  This vendor-neutral archive simplifies the IT landscape and supports clinical collaboration and confidence, with curated, good-quality multimedia image data, stored in one place
• Business Intelligence:
  Built-in business intelligence (BI) tools turn operational data into clear, actionable insight to keep care moving smoothly.

Did you know

RedSalud was founded in 2008 by the Chilean Chamber of Construction (CChC) to provide access to quality healthcare services to a significant portion of the Chilean population. It is now the largest private healthcare network in Chile.

In 2024, the network handled more than 5 million consultations, including medical consultations and emergency/urgent care, more than 2.4 million dental services, and more than 93,000 surgeries.