News in brief - June 28, 2004

HIMSS buys research firm - Most hospitals up tech spending - Sony exiting U.S. handheld market - Big Calif. IPA reports gain

HIMSS buys research firm

The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society has agreed to purchase the assets of Sheldon I. Dorenfest & Associates Ltd. for $5.5 million in cash plus an additional $500,000 if certain milestones are met.

The assets HIMSS is acquiring include a database containing market research data about information technology efforts of large health systems that Sheldon I. Dorenfest, Chicago, sells to health care technology vendors. HIMSS, a Chicago-based health care technology industry group, will use the database for a newly created subsidiary, HIMSS Analytics, which will sell health care technology market research services to vendors, hospitals and large medical groups.

Most hospitals up tech spending

A majority of American hospitals plan to increase their information technology spending by more than 10% over the next two years, according to a report by Datamonitor. Based on interviews with more than 100 hospitals, the London-based firm said hospitals this year were focusing on implementing clinical information systems and making existing clinical systems accessible at the bedside.

Sony exiting U.S. handheld market

As smarter phones outsell conventional personal digital assistants, Sony Electronics has decided to stop selling its Clie handheld device in the United States, according to The Wall Street Journal. For the foreseeable future, Sony Electronics, a unit of Sony Corp., will sell and release new models only in Japan.

Big Calif. IPA reports gain

Hill Physicians Medical Group, one of California's largest independent practice associations, reported net income of $5.6 million and revenue of $290.5 million in 2003, compared with a loss of $934,000 and revenue of $273.6 million for 2002.

The group, which includes a network of more than 2,100 physicians, also announced that it had distributed $12 million in bonuses to physicians last year. The group reported that about $5.6 million of that money had come from participation in California's Pay for Performance initiative.