Despite the government incentive programs, security regulations and channel initiatives, relatively little has been done to digitize the health care system. Vendors and government agencies believe that’s going to change – and the channel will be the beneficiary.

Rather than just targeting health care providers with its governance and regulatory compliance tool, eGastalt is leveraging the compliance requirements of business associations to spur geometric adoption of its products and channel opportunities. Call it the “Fabarge” strategy.

The new Ingram Micro Healthcare Partner Network provides serious health care solution providers with resources to learn, collaborate and extend their reach into this massive vertical.

Spurred by government stimulus dollars, health care organizations are expected to pour money into modernizing and expanding their information systems over the next several years. While many solution providers recognize the opportunity, too many see electronic healthcare record (EHR) systems as the primary opportunity. It’s actually just low-hanging fruit.

IBM and Nuance Communications are partnering to integrate speech-recognition technology with IBM’s artificial intelligence platform, better known as "Jeopardy!" champion Watson, for health care applications. This could solve some of the biggest problems facing health care solution providers.

Between government stimulus funds for electronic recordkeeping and regulatory requirements for data security, health care is the hot market for technology vendors and solution providers. Compliance is often seen as the means for compelling security adoption amongst health care providers, but in talking with solution providers about this gold rush opportunity, Channelnomics has discovered compliance – and its effectiveness as a selling tool – is in the eyes of the beholder.

George S. Patton would have been a monster in the IT channel. He was brash and outspoken, but behind that rugged warrior veneer was a hardened, calculating strategist who knew how to make plans in the war room and translate them into action in the field. If Patton were at this week’s Avnet IBM Partner Summit in San Antonio, he would’ve recognized the excellence in planning and execution demonstrated by the Avnet Trusted Advisor Award winners.