Analysts and solution provider resellers have identified health care as one of the vertical industries that is experiencing growth during the recession. Health care will also be a major benefactor of the economic stimulus package, and many solution providers and resellers plan to target that vertical as the health care stimulus funds are distributed.
Specifically, the stimulus package has earmarked $17 billion in incentive payments to physicians and hospitals to use electronic health records (EHRs). Other stimulus funds in the sector include $2 billion for grants and loans for health IT interoperability, regional and national EHR support, and $12 billion for broadband, facility construction and telemedicine, according to market research firm Gartner.
Dell and Perot Systems’ strategic alliance calls for joint delivery teams to provide “fully integrated global IT solutions” that include technology and services solutions such as virtualized desktops, storage and servers. Target clients include hospitals, health systems and doctors’ offices.