Samsung SDS inks health care deal in US

Koh Soon-dong Samsung SDS CEO

Samsung SDS announced Thursday that it has struck a 10-year contract with CHRISTUS Health, a major hospital network in the United States.

Upon the agreement, the Samsung Group affiliate will sell its electronic medical record (EMR) solutions to CHRISTUS Health.

CHRISTUS Health is an international Catholic, faith-based, not-for-profit health system comprising almost 350 services and facilities, including more than 60 hospitals and long-term care facilities. Its corporate headquarters are in Irving, Texas.

The latest deal is expected to be a breakthrough for SDS in its system integration (SI) businesses as this is the first time to export software kits.

The company said it will start supplying the solutions to CHRISTUS Health’s network from July and added the companies have agreed to launch joint-marketing projects.

“Samsung SDS will utilize CHRISTUS Health’s comprehensive experience in delivering health care services and in integrating health care technology to enhance those services to ultimately benefit the patient,” it said in the statement.

SDS said the partnership includes co-marketing, as well as cooperative solution development. CHRISTUS Health will also benefit by having first access to future enhancements and additions made by the Korean firm.

SDS has failed to acquire stable brand awareness as a qualified SI provider hit by previous setbacks in Japan among other nations.

The company was recently in trouble with other Samsung affiliates for technical problems of its management-related systems, according to company officials.

But the firm believes ongoing health care reform efforts by the Barack Obama administration will push hospitals in the United States to shift their sights to advanced technology systems, allowing more business opportunities for Korea’s software companies including Samsung SDS.

In a statement, SDS said it has been acquiring know-how in effectively managing EMR solutions as it’s participated in various related projects with local hospitals like Samsung Medical Center (SMC), adding the company is upbeat on expanding its client base in this area.

Samsung SDS public relations spokeswoman Lee Na-hyun declined to unveil financial terms of the latest deal citing the sensitivity of the issue.

More significantly, both CHRISTUS Health and Samsung SDS are working toward “Phase two of the EMR implementation,” in which they will develop an entirely new EMR interface that moves away from traditional views of patient data (electronic views based on current paper records) to one that capitalizes on the capabilities of new devices and allows physicians to work faster to provide improved quality medical service. <The Korea Times/Kim Yoo-chul>

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