IBM buys healthcare IT firm Initiate Systems

IBM is to buy Initiate Systems for an undisclosed sum

IBM has agreed to purchase Chicago-based data management specialist Initiate Systems. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, and IBM said that the acquisition should be finalised by the end of the quarter.

Initiate specialises in applications that manage patient information for pharmacies and hospitals. The software includes tools to manage and share medical records between healthcare facilities.

IBM said that it plans to integrate Initiate into its Cognos and InfoSphere enterprise platforms, and said that the deal will help bolster the company's business analytics and consulting services.

IBM is also hoping to improve its offerings for the government and healthcare sectors, and boost compliance with medical data protection standards.

"With the addition of Initiate's software and its industry expertise, IBM will offer clients a comprehensive solution for delivering the information they need to improve the well being of patients at a lower cost," said Arvind Krishna, general manager for information management at IBM.

"Similarly, our government clients will now have even more capabilities for gathering and making use of information to serve citizens in a timely and efficient manner."