Technology Distributor Lays Out Game Plan to Capitalize on Health Care IT Spending in the United States, Driven by HIPAA Federal Regulation
SANTA ANA, Calif., April 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ingram Micro Inc. (NYSE: IM), the largest global wholesale provider of technology products and supply chain management services, today unveiled a comprehensive health care market development plan to capture the growing IT sales opportunities within the U.S. health care market.
Driven by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), health care IT spending is expected to grow to more than $18 billion by 2006, according to IDC analysts, as U.S. companies invest in the technology that enables compliance with this new federal regulation. HIPAA is designed to standardize electronic data for specified administrative and financial transactions and protect the security of patient information.
"Over the past year, Ingram Micro has devoted substantial resources to researching and identifying the technology needs of the health care industry," said Pat Collins, senior group vice president, sales and marketing, Ingram Micro North America. "Today, we are taking our expertise to the street and educating the industry on how technology can benefit the health care market. HIPAA is a great point of entry for resellers and vendors of technology, yet in the long-run, health care technology sales in the United States will be driven by solutions that increase the quality of services offered to patients and render a high return on investment for health care institutions."
Under the new plan, Ingram Micro has identified and aggregated health care-specific technology solutions and services targeted at helping hospitals, doctors and dental offices, assisted living centers, medical equipment providers, ambulance companies, pharmacies, optometrists and HMOs meet HIPAA compliance and increase productivity and general business efficiencies. These solutions and services are delivered and implemented within the varying health care institutions by Ingram Micro's solution provider customers.
To further assist in identifying the technology needs of today's health care market, Ingram Micro also developed a comprehensive assessment tool that its customers can use to analyze a business' need for HIPAA compliance and demonstrate the return on investment.
"From document imaging and management to networking, wireless, security and storage solutions, Ingram Micro offers a solid breadth of health care-specific solutions from leading IT vendors including Cisco, Network Associates, Fujitsu, Proxim and Citrix," said Bob Laclede, general manager and vice president, sales, Ingram Micro U.S. "In addition, we are encouraging partnerships between our solution provider customers and independent software vendors to better serve the unique platform needs of the specializations within the health care market. Together, we are bringing complete software and hardware solutions forward to generate greater market demand."
In support of these new health care product offerings, Ingram Micro has established a dedicated HIPAA help desk to provide its solution provider customers with trained technical expertise in deploying these technologies. The company also offers special pricing on these bundled solutions and in- depth training sessions to reduce the entry barrier for interested solution providers. For example, in May, Ingram Micro will host three HIPAA-focused seminars at its VentureTech Network, GovEd Alliance and MarketFocus customer events. Additionally, Ingram Micro will work with interested solution provider customers to develop tailored HIPAA educational events for health care businesses in their local markets.
Other health care-focused resources available through Ingram Micro include cost justification guides, Knowledge is Power seminars and a focused team of health care sales and technical support associates ready to provide one-on-one consulting support to its solution provider customers.
To learn more about Ingram Micro's health care offerings, licensed technology resellers and interested technology vendors should contact an Ingram Micro sales representative or visit www.ingrammicro.com for additional information. The HIPAA help desk can be reached at (800) 445-5066, ext. 76026.
About Ingram Micro Inc.
As the world's leading wholesale provider of technology products and supply chain services, Ingram Micro is the best way to get technology from the people who make it to the people who use it. Visit www.ingrammicro.com.
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SOURCE Ingram Micro Inc.