DEVON, PA – One of the nation’s largest providers of software for physicians and hospitals has signed a deal for hardware support.

Allscripts-Misys Healthcare Solutions is contracting with DecisionOne, a Devon, Pa.-based provider of technology support services for healthcare providers, to assume responsibility for the maintenance of the hardware infrastructure of thousands of Allscripts clients nationwide.

Based in Chicago, Allscripts serves more than 800 hospitals, 160,000 physicians and thousands of other healthcare providers with solutions that include electronic health records and practice management, revenue cycle management, e-prescribing, document management and prenatal care technology.

“We are extremely pleased to be selected as Allscripts service delivery partner as they continue to distinguish themselves in the healthcare IT solutions space with a demonstrated commitment to providing the medical community with comprehensive solutions and superior service,” said Neal Bibeau, DecisionOne’s president and CEO. “DecisionOne is uniquely positioned to provide Allscripts customers with world-class infrastructure support by drawing on our 50 years of experience in maintaining high availability computing environments. Our technicians will be trained and certified in rigorous technical requirements, general healthcare-related requirements, as well as in Allscripts-specific requirements.”

Founded in 1958, DecisionOne offers support for data center, desktop, networking/communications and specialty hardware. Under the terms of the agreement, the company will integrate Allscripts’ internal hardware service personnel into its network.

“We selected DecisionOne for their extensive experience in the healthcare environment, their strong multi-vendor heritage and high standards for technician training, certification and performance,” said Eileen McPartland, Allscripts’ chief operating officer. “As we continue to expand our valued client relationships and add new healthcare professionals at a rapid pace, we are confident that DecisionOne will help Allscripts continue to provide industry-leading service levels for our clients who had been depending upon Allscripts for these services.”

Company officials say the partnership will help Allscripts focus more strongly on helping healthcare providers meet the demand for interoperability and “meaningful use” of IT, particularly in the adoption of electronic health records, as stressed by President Barack Obama and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).