CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents, including restricted cash of $813 and $707 at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively	$ 35,875	$ 39,272
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts and sales returns of $14,074 and $4,080 at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively	72,065	71,014
Inventory	5,979	4,718
Prepaid expenses	4,972	5,678
Deferred income taxes	3,135	3,393
Other current assets	21,621	20,199
Total current assets	143,647	144,274
Property and equipment:
Computer equipment	7,754	10,183
Office equipment	2,699	2,262
Leasehold improvements	1,287	1,220
Property and equipment, gross	11,740	13,665
Less accumulated depreciation	6,776	9,274
Net property and equipment	4,964	4,391
Purchased and developed software, net of accumulated amortization of $13,884 and $9,283 at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively	19,007	23,924
Other intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $25,007 and $14,907 at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively	35,628	45,152
Goodwill	214,312	209,829
Deferred income taxes	7,041	9,209
Other assets	12,254	13,608
Total assets	436,853	450,387
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	24,438	22,114
Interest payable	4,944	4,935
Accrued wages	5,881	6,972
Restructuring accrual	222	1,407
Other current liabilities	12,606	11,580
Deferred revenue	52,355	51,246
Total current liabilities	100,446	98,254
Notes payable	250,046	249,438
Deferred income taxes	3,046	1,891
Deferred revenue	894	1,679
Income taxes payable	1,040	727
Other liabilities	3,920	5,927
Total liabilities	359,392	357,916
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock, $0.01 par value: 150,000,000 shares authorized: 93,137,737 shares and 90,939,053 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.	931	909
Common stock subscribed, 158,395 shares and 195,116 shares at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively	934	1,311
Additional paid-in capital	577,774	563,563
Accumulated deficit	(504,195)	(475,393)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	1,567	1,613
Total Merge Healthcare Incorporated shareholders' equity	77,011	92,003
Noncontrolling interest	450	468
Total shareholders' equity	77,461	92,471
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	436,853	450,387
Series A Non-voting Preferred Stock [Member]
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock	0	0
Series B Preferred Stock [Member]
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock	$ 0	$ 0