Dell acquisition helps healthcare push
Dell's $3.9 billion acquisition of Perot Systems will help fortify Dell's pursuit of new customers in the healthcare industry, a sector that's been getting a lot of attention from Dell, and its competitors, in recent months, reports InformationWeek.
The US federal government's $20 billion Hitech stimulus programme is creating significant demand for health IT products and services, such as the purchase and deployment of e-medical record systems. Vendors don't want to be left out of that action, and Dell is no exception.
The acquisition of Perot bolsters Dell's professional services and IT consulting offering in general, positioning Dell to better compete against IBM and HP/EDS in general. But in the healthcare sector in particular, this acquisition comes at a strategic time for Dell and Perot.
E-medical records raise privacy questions
A federal advisory panel heard several proposals about how to best protect patient privacy while creating and sharing electronic health records (EHRs), states FederalComputerWeek.
The US Health Information Technology Policy Committee convened to prepare recommendations to the Health and Human Services Department on distributing $19 billion in economic stimulus funding for incentive payments for EHRs and health information exchanges.
The bulk of the money will go to doctors and hospitals that buy certified record systems and participate in the exchanges. HHS is expected to issue a rule by year's end. Dr Deborah Peel, founder of the Coalition for Patient Privacy, says the core of privacy is patient control of the information in EHRs.
Health portals grow, profits low
With the concept of wellness and health catching up, healthcare Web sites are not only mushrooming but constantly innovating to beat the competition, says TMCnet
Though the traffic to these Web sites is increasing, profitability remains dim for many. Medindia.net, one of the leading portals providing health-related information, online medical and diet consultation, and a database of doctors, hospitals, health NGOs and chemists, has recently added a social networking feature on its portal for patients and doctors.
The feature allows communities of doctors, patients and experts to connect. The portal is also working on making its health content suitable to be read on phone. However, despite being in business for a decade, Medindia.net is yet to make profits.
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