Verizon Enterprise Solutions has launched a range of cloud-based services for the healthcare sector that are designed to be compliant with the rules that govern how US health professionals use communications technology to handle patient data.

The operator claims it is one of the first top-tier providers to offer such specialised services which will enable the sector to remotely store and share data such as electronic health records and radiology images while being compliant with the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).  Customers will use Verizon’s data centres for storing patient data.

In addition to companies directly in the healthcare sector, the operator is also targeting insurance, pharmaceutical and supporting industries with the new services.

In a recent interview with Mobile Health Live, Dr Peter Tippett, chief medical officer and vice president of Verizon’s health IT practice, said the operator was planning an initiative around simplifying compliance for healthcare. At the time, Tippett declined to share details but this announcement appears to be what he had under wraps.

Verizon is interested in developing its compliance and health certification business, Tippett made clear in the interview two months ago. In addition to the current announcement, there are other opportunities, for instance in reassuring users about the security and prviacy of apps, as well as testing the same on behalf of healthcare providers.