Avnet Technology Solutions Introduces Oracle Healthcare Information Exchange and Analytics Solutions for the Channel in the U.S. and Canada

Avnet Technology Solutions, the global IT solutions distribution leader and an operating group of Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT), announced today that it is now authorized to distribute Oracle’s Health Sciences solutions in the U.S. and Canada, including Oracle’s Healthcare Information Exchange and Oracle Enterprise Healthcare Analytics solutions.

Based on Avnet’s proven ability to develop and foster an ecosystem of highly-skilled healthcare IT solution provider partners through its SolutionsPath^® methodology and HealthPath^® practice, Oracle’s Health Sciences has authorized Avnet to distribute these specialized solutions. Under this agreement, Avnet will support a uniquely qualified team of healthcare IT solution providers and enable them to solve the business challenges facing small and midsize hospitals related to accountable care, electronic health records (EHRs) and health information exchanges (HIEs).

“Interoperability and business intelligence are top IT priorities facing the healthcare industry in 2012 and for the foreseeable future,” said Chris Swahn, vice president and general manager for Avnet Technology Solutions, Americas’ Oracle Solutions group. “Federal mandates and patient demands all point toward an increasing need for hospitals and healthcare providers to share data electronically while still ensuring patient privacy and data security. Avnet is working with Oracle to foster a core team of knowledgeable solution providers that can help small and midsize hospitals prepare for the changing IT landscape. Our partners have the in-depth healthcare expertise and deep data center experience needed to create complete technology solutions that address the business intelligence needs associated with accountable care, EHRs and HIEs.”

Avnet partners providing Oracle Healthcare Information Exchange and Oracle Enterprise Healthcare Analytics solutions to hospitals have honed their industry insight through Avnet’s SolutionsPath practices. These practices include an end-to-end engagement process with strategic planning consultation on high-growth vertical markets and data center technology areas. They also offer access to industry experts, business analytics and other supportive resources, including specific training related to vertical markets. For example, Avnet’s healthcare practice includes HealthPath University, which has been educating partners on the specialized healthcare industry since 2006. Additionally, Avnet offers a week-long HealthPath University Internship held on-site at Scottsdale Healthcare hospitals. This unique program takes participants into a hospital to provide a true "on-the-job" educational experience. The curriculum is structured to enable participants to view the realities of the healthcare world through the eyes of patients and healthcare professionals and to provide a better understanding of the challenges healthcare providers face every day.

“The ability to effectively and seamlessly manage, exchange and analyze health data is fundamental to healthcare transformation. IT environment complexity, security concerns and regulatory requirements, however, often present formidable challenges,” said Neil de Crescenzo, senior vice president and general manager, Oracle Health Sciences. “Oracle Healthcare Information Exchange and Oracle Enterprise Healthcare Analytics solutions help hospitals overcome these challenges by unlocking the operational and medical value of electronic information. Avnet and its solution provider community are well qualified to bring these solutions to small and midsize hospitals.”

Participating partners will also be able to leverage Avnet’s Data Center Lifecycle Services to provide hospitals with complete IT solutions. These services span the entire IT lifecycle, including planning, acquisition, integration, deployment, management and disposal of IT assets.

Avnet is a Platinum level member in Oracle PartnerNetwork (OPN) and helps its partners quickly obtain Oracle Health Sciences specialization through its exclusive Under Our Wing program. Avnet will also provide training and certification assistance to participating partners related to Oracle HIE and Analytics Solutions. Additionally, Avnet’s Under Our Wing program will enable partners to demonstrate to hospitals the benefits of incorporating the Oracle Exadata Database Machine into their data center and IT environments, both in-person and virtually.

Supporting Partner Quotes

“In today’s healthcare industry, a robust integrated data warehouse that enables actionable analytics is a must,” said Lisa Davis, CEO, Analytics Partners. “It is no longer okay just to capture the information. Now, healthcare organizations must also integrate and produce actionable analytics that enable the business and medical units to make the right decisions at the right time. We see Avnet and Oracle’s collaboration within the healthcare industry as a great advantage not only for us as a partner, but for our customers as well. Avnet and Oracle are providing the capabilities and industry expertise that enable all of us to innovate the way healthcare providers utilize their IT environments.”

“BizTech was selected to be a partner in this initiative because of our deep expertise in implementing advanced analytic solutions based on Oracle technology,” said Tom Connolly, president and CEO, BizTech. “The Avnet and Oracle’s health sciences initiative addresses a critical need for healthcare providers, particularly around Health Sciences Analytics, and offers a tremendous opportunity to combine Oracle product leadership with BizTech domain expertise. BizTech’s mission has been to provide business value through the use of technology. Being part of the health sciences initiative with Avnet and Oracle gives us the opportunity to expand that mission to provide solutions that can have a tangible impact on health outcomes for patients.”

"There is a lot of excitement at Enkitec around Avnet's new healthcare initiatives,” said Wade Nicolas, president, Enkitec, LP. “Regulatory and other pressures are driving up demand for solutions that protect and manage healthcare data. Avnet is leading the pack by including truly innovative programs with great support for services companies that round out their offerings with products from Oracle."

“Our business partnership with Avnet has allowed us to grow our business exponentially,” said Wayne Owens, CEO, Health IT2. “Avnet has the comprehensive end-to-end healthcare initiatives, unparalleled services and support offerings for its partner network that enable us to successfully target this highly specialized market. Avnet’s new health sciences initiative with Oracle will help us take our business to the next level and meet the dynamic challenges the healthcare industry will face over the next 20 years.”

“LCN has specific expertise in all levels of meaningful use in the highly-specialized healthcare market,” said Phil Stiles, managing partner, LCN Services, LLC. “Our long-term relationships with both Avnet and Oracle position LCN perfectly with the capabilities to provide complete integration and security solutions for clinical and financial healthcare applications that help our customers meet the ever-changing requirements in healthcare.”

“With technology constantly evolving, the healthcare industry is very exciting! Maplesoft is committed to growing our healthcare industry expertise,” said Jack Gulas, chief technology officer, Maplesoft Group. “We fundamentally believe that the improvements in electronic health records will improve overall Canadian patient care while protecting patients’ sensitive medical data. By participating in this unique health science initiative with Avnet and Oracle, Maplesoft can fast track our time to market by leveraging Avnet's SolutionsPath^® industry best practices and Oracle's proven technology to create customized solutions for Canadian healthcare providers.”

At HIMSS 2012, visit Avnet Technology Solutions at booth #1463.

Follow Avnet Technology Solutions, North America, on Twitter: http://twitter.com/AvnetAdvantage

About Avnet Technology Solutions

As a global IT solutions distributor, Avnet Technology Solutions collaborates with its customers and suppliers to create and deliver services, software and hardware solutions that address the business needs of their end-user customers locally and around the world. For fiscal year 2011, the group served customers in more than 70 countries and generated US $11.5 billion in annual revenue. Avnet Technology Solutions (www.ats.avnet.com) is an operating group of Avnet, Inc.

About Avnet

Avnet, Inc. (NYSE:AVT), a Fortune 500 company, is one of the largest distributors of electronic components, computer products and embedded technology serving customers in more than 70 countries worldwide. Avnet accelerates its partners' success by connecting the world's leading technology suppliers with a broad base of more than 100,000 customers by providing cost-effective, value-added services and solutions. For the fiscal year ended July 2, 2011, Avnet generated revenue of $26.5 billion. For more information, visit www.avnet.com.

Trademarks

Oracle and Java are registered trademarks of Oracle and/or its affiliates.