VAR500 Roundup: New Contracts, Health Care Activity, Earnings Brighten Horizon

VAR500 Roundup: Seasonal Upturn

Health care is making news -- and money-- for solution providers, as more reports of positive earnings and renewed contacts also portend a bright autumn.

Accenture Reports On E-Health Challenges

A new report from Accenture (2010 VAR500 rank: 5) finds that health care organizations looking to invest heavily in e-health solutions face challenges regarding data privacy, confidentiality, security, quality and integrity.

The report, Information Governance: The Foundation for Effective e-Health, helps health-care organizations assess their current information management situation.

"From working on e-health implementations around the world, we have built and are sharing this framework to help organizations address data privacy concerns, ensure compliance with standards and regulations, maximize the value of electronic health record systems, and support physician adoption," said Mark Knickrehm (left), global managing director of Accenture’s health-care practice.

ePlus Extends Contract With Hospital Consortium

ePlus Technology (2010 VAR500 rank: 85) has renewed its agreement with VHA Inc., a nationwide network of not-for-profit hospitals that work together to improve clinical and economic performance. ePlus will offer IT products and services as well as leasing services for IT and medical equipment to more than 1,400 VHA member health-care institutions and 28,000+ non-acute facilities nationwide.

"We look forward to continuing our status as a proven partner to hundreds of health-care organizations and a one-stop resource for all IT equipment and services as well as leasing solutions," said Mark Marron, president of ePlus (left).

HP Honored For Top Service, Product Quality

HP (HP Services' 2010 VAR500 rank: 2) earned the Excellence in Service Operations certification from the Technology Services Industry Association for providing superior technical support and services in North America. This is the third consecutive year HP has been recognized for commercial notebook and desktop PC support, and the second year HP was certified in the consumer market, including both PCs and printers. The certification provides customers confidence that both products and support are of top quality.

’We are committed to making investments that continually improve customer experiences,’ said Antonio Neri, vice president, Customer Experience and Warranty Services, Personal Systems Group, HP.

CSC Reports Revenue Growth

CSC (2010 VAR500 rank: 6) reported first quarter fiscal 2011 revenue of $3.94 billion, up from first quarter fiscal 2010 revenue of $3.90 billion. New business awards for the quarter were $3.2 billion: North American Public Sector contributed approximately $1.2 billion, Business Solutions & Services reported $0.8 billion, and Managed Services Sector closed $1.2 billion of new business.

CSC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Michael Laphen said, ’We are seeing increased demand emerging from some regions and within some industries. Our strategic targets of Cloud, Cyber and Healthcare, as well as network management are all indicating positive signs."

SAIC Expands Homeland Security Offerings

Science Applications International Corp., (2010 VAR500 rank: 14) has completed the acquisition of Reveal Imaging Technologies a leading threat detection products and services company.

Reveal will join SAIC's Security and Transportation Technology Business Unit, part of SAIC's Infrastructure, Energy, Health and Product Solutions Group led by Joe Craver.

"Reveal's technology brings a new and valuable capability to SAIC's overall homeland security offering. This acquisition represents new opportunities for growth, and will enable us to better serve customers," said Craver.