Advantedge Healthcare Solutions Joins IBM Vertical Industry Program

Advantedge Healthcare Solutions (AHS), a leading provider of medical billing software-as-a-service to physicians, today announced it has joined IBM’s Vertical Industry Program (VIP), as the only VIP provider of medical billing software. This partnership gives AHS access to IBM’s marketing and sales support for SMB customers.

AHS will provide medical billing technology running on the IBM “all-in-one” System i platform, including the new System i Express 515 and System i Express 525, also announced today. AHS believes these powerful, flexible new offerings from IBM represent a more cost-effective solution for small businesses and medical practices.

Paired with AHS’s software, IBM’s new System i line brings state-of-the-art medical billing solutions to cost-conscious practices and billing companies of all sizes, expanding the market opportunity for IBM and AHS, and extending AHS’s reach into medical offices and their medical billing counterparts nationwide. These complete solutions are available this month from AHS and IBM.

“We’ve built AHS around IBM’s System i because it allows us to focus all of our development resources on medical applications and features,” says Stephen G. Sullivan Sr., founder of AHS. “With the new System i line, AHS can provide its physician customers with high performance products at incredible value. Practices and billing companies of all sizes will now have access to the same AHS and IBM billing power, at very affordable prices. Coupled with IBM’s VIP focus on small business customers, we believe that our proprietary technology and commitment to customer service enable medical practices and billing companies to focus on their core business and drive more revenue in a fully compliant way.”

“IBM’s VIP provides focused marketing, sales, and support resources for selected vertical market industries and we are pleased to welcome AHS to the program,” says Peter Small, director worldwide IBM System i business partner and ISV sales. “We expect the VIP initiative plus the new System i Express line to introduce IBM and its partners, like AHS, to new small business clients. System i Express offers small and mid-sized companies a complete IT platform, able to grow at a pace with business needs, at a competitive price.”

In April and November 2006, AHS received a $20 million commitment from Founders Equity Inc., a New York-based private equity firm, and Safeguard Scientifics, Inc., a leading provider of capital to growth-stage technology and life sciences companies. As a result of this financing, AHS is accelerating organic growth and pursuing strategic acquisitions.