IDC Health Insights Arms Health Information Exchange Organizations with Guide to IT Consultants and Systems Integrators

FRAMINGHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--IDC Health Insights today announced the availability of a new report, Vendor Assessment: U.S. Health Information Exchange Organizations’ Guide to IT Consultants and System Integrators, (Doc #HI243455), which evaluates the largest IT consulting and systems integration services vendors to the U.S. health information organization (HIO) market. This report is the third in a series published this year (see also: Vendor Assessment: U.S. Healthcare Providers' Guide to IT Consultants and Systems Integrators (Doc # HI241857); and Vendor Assessment: U.S. Healthcare Payers' Guide to IT Consultants and Systems Integrators (Doc # HI240501)]. The new report evaluates seven vendors: Accenture, Cognizant, Computer Sciences Corp. (CSC), Dell, HCL Technologies (HCL), OptumInsight (Optum), and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).

IDC Health Insights examined each consulting firm in terms of their ecosystem capabilities and/or formal partnerships, service-line offerings, and their investments. Designed to help HIO leaders quickly build short lists of consulting candidates for specific engagements, the new assessment can also help consultants refine the ways they compete for new projects, engage with clients, and invest in their future offerings and capabilities.

Key findings include:

• Rising demand for HIE consulting: The ROI justifications for HIOs are coming into focus for payers and providers that view HIE technology as a cornerstone for effective population management and alternative payment models. Rising mindshare and investment in accountable care will drive higher spending for HIE technology and HIE consulting.
• Partnerships form: Formal partnerships have recently been established by several of the firms featured in this research. Informal working relationships are also developing fast.
• Consulting offerings move to a new stage of maturity: The HIE consulting market is immature, but the featured consulting firms have the necessary organizational structures, resources, ecosystem relationships, and offerings to scale quickly as they onboard clients.
• Focus on private enterprise HIE segment: Growth of consulting spending will be most pronounced among large, complex, private HIEs. Variations in demand within this segment will likely drive specialization for fledgling HIE consulting practices that will define the HIE services market long term.

Leaders at HCOs are relying heavily on IT consultants to help them articulate their strategic options, understand the quickly evolving HIE technology marketplace, fill gaps in existing technology assets, and achieve their strategic goals in timely fashion. The challenge for HIOs is that consultants need to be hired and managed appropriately in order to justify their costs. As a result, HIO leaders are looking for guidance to identify and engage IT consultants. This is especially true for HIOs that are seeking to establish long-term relationships with IT consultants to reduce the costs and increase the benefits over multiple consulting engagements.

According to Sven Lohse, Research Manager, IDC Health Insights, "This report defines the fragmented and quickly evolving HIE technology and consulting landscape. It creates clear guidelines for HIO leaders that need to understand the key IT consulting industry players and their capabilities to use HIE technology to achieve meaningful use and accountable care."

For additional information about this report or to arrange a one-on-one briefing with Sven Lohse, please contact Sarah Murray at 781-378-2674 or [e-mail]. Reports are available to qualified members of the media. For information on purchasing reports, contact [e-mail]; reporters should email [e-mail].

About IDC Health Insights
IDC Health Insights assists health businesses and IT leaders, as well as the suppliers who serve them, in making more effective technology decisions by providing accurate, timely, and insightful fact-based research and consulting services. Staffed by senior analysts with decades of industry experience, our global research analyzes and advises on business and technology issues facing the payer, provider and life sciences industries. International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology market. IDC is a subsidiary of IDG, the world’s leading technology, media, research, and events company. For more information, please visit www.idc-hi.com, email [e-mail], or call 508-935-4445. Visit the IDC Health Insights Community at http://idc-insights-community.com/health.