Power of SUNY

Computer Giant Dell Invests $15 Million in UB Healthcare Institute

On Sept. 23, 2010, Michael Dell, president and CEO of Dell, announced that the company would be making a $15 million investment in computer equipment and services to support launch of the University at Buffalo's new Institute for Healthcare Informatics.

Dell's investment is critical to the creation of UB's Institute for Healthcare Informatics and establishing it on the Roosevelt Building's first floor. The 15,000-square-foot space will be renovated to accommodate Dell's high-powered computers and 100 employees from UB, Dell, Buffalo-based technology company CTG, and UB Associates, the management service organization supporting the 450 physicians in the UBMD medical practice plans. The project has the potential to create approximately 115 new high-paying jobs in computer programming and data analysis, and new entry-level positions in medical records management.

The UB Institute for Healthcare Informatics will be a leading informatics center within SUNY, allowing medical centers and university centers within the system to tap into the UB institute for medical research and data management.

"With the generous support of Michael Dell, the UB Institute for Healthcare Informatics will put UB and SUNY on the map as pioneers of informatics education," said SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher. "By training students and producing research in this cutting-edge technology area, this center will help us realize SUNY's strategic goals in the areas of health care and economic development."

Medical informatics is an emerging field centered on using information technology to analyze and share patient information among health care practitioners and across health care institutions. Such analysis leads to better monitoring of patient care, enhanced measures to prevent disease and identification of more-effective treatments, which leads to better patient outcomes and reduced medical costs.