Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN - News) is reportedly unveiling a new cloud-based solution targeting the health care industry. The comprehensive technical and management solutions provider also mentioned that the new offering will be made available virtually through AT&T Inc.’s (NYSE:T - News) data centers. AT&T will host the solution leveraging its MIMM cloud service (custom made for imaging services), which was launched last June.
The new solution–– Accenture Medical Imaging Solution –– will go a long way in solving the challenges of physically storing medical images such as X-Ray, CT and MRI Scan, faced by hospitals and medical service providers. The solution will enable hospitals and their staff to quick access and share medical images in the cloud, ultimately leading to storage cost reductions. The solution will be beneficial for long-term preservation of the patient images for future reference, speeding up clinical decision making.
The global health care landscape is undergoing a fundamental change as insurers and providers adapt to new requirements for sharing electronic medical records. Transferring medical record into the cloud reduces storage and ownership costs and also mitigates physical space problems. We believe that Accenture’s latest offering will soon catch the attention of health care providers, hastening deployments.
But let’s watch out for the competitive scenario. International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE:IBM - News) already has a suite for imaging and storing. Dell Inc. (NasdaqGS:DELL - News) is planning to launch a bunch of medical services in 2012, including cloud-based imaging solutions.
Dell’s decision to expand the health care portfolio mainly rests on the surging global demand for storing, managing and sharing medical record on the cloud. The tech behemoth intends to do so with support from the acquisition of cloud-based, image management software and storage services provider InSite One Inc. in December 2010.
However, considering Accenture’s position with customers, the company should continue to see a high rate of success with them, but we think it will have to compete harder for new ones.
Currently, Accenture has a Zacks #3 Rank, which implies a short-term Hold rating.
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