lifeIMAGE has closed a $17.5 million round of financing led by Cambia Health Solutions, a Portland, Ore.-based nonprofit total health solutions company looking to create a person-focused and economically sustainable system.

lifeIMAGE is the largest and most utilized network for exchanging medical imaging in the U.S. It will use the fresh capital to expand resources for its growing customer base, increase the breadth of its network capabilities and implement the next phases of its go-to-market strategy.

The company helps providers improve care coordination for patient consultations, referrals and transfers by making medical imaging exams from unaffiliated hospitals, physicians and patients accessible worldwide. It also interoperates with the electronic medical record systems from Cerner Corporation and Epic Systems to ensure every member of a patient’s care team has fast access to a complete imaging history. The lifeIMAGE network consists of more than 120 multi-site health systems that include academic medical centers, pediatric facilities, certified trauma centers, oncology centers of excellence and imaging providers.

“With the added capital and Cambia’s support, lifeIMAGE will scale up and demonstrate how innovative health plans can take advantage of our network to bring value to their providers as they adopt a value-based approach to managing the health of their patient populations,” said Hamid Tabatabaie, CEO and co-founder of lifeIMAGE.

Cambia’s strategic investment in lifeIMAGE is part of a new round of equity that also includes participation by existing lifeIMAGE investors, including Cardinal Partners, Galen Partners, Long River Ventures, Mass Ventures, and Partners Innovation Fund. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. acted as exclusive placement agent for lifeIMAGE.