IBM to acquire Initiate Systems for undisclosed sum

IBM has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Initiate Systems, a provider of data integrity software for information sharing among healthcare and government organizations. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.

The Chicago-based Initiate is privately held and marks the 30th acquisition that IBM has made in the information and analytics sector, according to the Armonk, N.Y.-based company. The IT giant said it intends to integrate the Initiate organization with its information management business after the closing.

Initiate’s software assists in the adoption and exchange of EMRs, said IBM. In combination with its InfoSphere software, IBM said that Initiate’s software will expand its capabilities for information governance and help agencies gain a single view of relevant information.

Initiate’s healthcare clients include payors and providers as well as retailers selling prescription drugs, including Alberta Ministry of Health and Wellness, BMI Healthcare, Calgary Health Region, CVS/Caremark, Humana, Ochsner Health System, North Dakota’s Department of Health and Human Services and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

IBM said it will continue to support Initiate’s technologies, and utilize its information management capabilities including: clinical analytics, information discovery and transformation and data warehousing and business intelligence.    

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory clearance and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2010.