Distributor Tech Data announced having reached a distribution agreement this week with software developer gloStream.
gloStream creates electronic medical records (EMR) and practice-management (PM) software applications. The company’s Microsoft Office-based EMR and PM applications are designed for small to midsize doctors’ offices and clinics.
“They help medical practices improve patient care and streamline operations,” states a Tech Data press release submitted to EH Publishing, “and they qualify for EMR adoption incentives created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).”
According to gloStream, ARRA provides more than $20 billion in incentives to Medicare and Medicaid providers who implement certified EMR solutions. The company estimates the total number of physician practices in the United States tops 230,000, 95 percent of which are small offices and only 5 to 10 percent of which have adopted EMR solutions.
Tech Data’s vice president of government, healthcare, and technical services Barb Miller says it’s been a priority of Tech Data to “identify vendors who not only bring specialized solutions to the market, but who also understand the value of partnering with resellers.”
Until this agreement, says Miller, gloStream has not partnered with a distributor. Nevertheless, it has, she says, “worked through a network of reseller partners to bring their solutions to doctors nationwide.”
For gloStream, the distribution agreement comes at an opportune time. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the partner community since the vast majority of doctors’ offices will be converting to electronic medical record systems over the next few years,” says Mike Sappington, gloStream’s CEO. “Our relationship with Tech Data will be an important component in helping our partners build strong healthcare IT practices and bring complete EMR and PM solutions to the ambulatory healthcare market.”
