CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents, including restricted cash of $707 and $1,647 at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively	$ 39,272	$ 41,029
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts and sales returns of $4,080 and $1,322 at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively	71,014	53,254
Inventory	4,718	3,486
Prepaid expenses	5,678	4,191
Deferred income taxes	3,393	2,545
Other current assets	20,199	11,258
Total current assets	144,274	115,763
Property and equipment:
Computer equipment	10,183	9,859
Office equipment	2,262	2,007
Leasehold improvements	1,220	1,055
Property and Equipment	13,665	12,921
Less accumulated depreciation	9,274	7,149
Net property and equipment	4,391	5,772
Purchased and developed software, net of accumulated amortization of $9,283 and $9,811 at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively	23,924	26,619
Other intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $14,907 and $8,419 at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively	45,152	48,957
Goodwill	209,829	169,533
Deferred income taxes	9,209	17,006
Other assets	13,608	12,995
Total assets	450,387	396,645
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	22,114	18,370
Interest payable	4,935	3,917
Accrued wages	6,972	4,304
Restructuring accrual	1,407	1,707
Other current liabilities	11,580	6,875
Deferred revenue	51,246	52,233
Total current liabilities	98,254	87,406
Notes payable	249,438	195,077
Deferred income taxes	1,891	0
Deferred revenue	1,679	1,709
Income taxes payable	727	5,683
Other	5,927	1,964
Total liabilities	357,916	291,839
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock, $0.01 par value: 150,000,000 shares authorized: 90,939,053 shares and 83,258,123 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.	909	833
Common stock subscribed, 195,116 shares and 991,053 shares at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively	1,311	3,323
Additional paid-in capital	563,563	527,228
Accumulated deficit	(475,393)	(469,872)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	1,613	1,544
Total Merge Healthcare Incorporated shareholders' equity	92,003	104,806
Noncontrolling interest	468	0
Total shareholders' equity	92,471	104,806
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	450,387	396,645
Series A Non-voting Preferred Stock [Member]
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred Stock	0	41,750
Series B Preferred Stock [Member]
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred Stock	$ 0	$ 0