Dell is latest big-name technology company to jump into the healthcare market, offering small physician practices a one-stop shop for electronic health records (EHRs). The personal computer manufacturer is not only offering the hardware and software but consulting and financing as well.

 Throw a pile of money at an industry and watch a mob converge. While there will be opportunists who have no business being at the scene, the legitimate players will push the envelope. Dell's entrance highlights the innovation and thinking out of the box that is heating up the small physician practice market.

Earlier in the year, we had the collaboration of Wal-Mart, eClinicalWorks and Dell to offer off-the-shelf, inexpensive EHR at Sam's Club. In May AllScripts announced its partnership with Cardinal Health to create a new distribution network for its EHR through the major healthcare system. We've got Web-based service providers and open-source applications, and even a community college partnering with an IT consulting company to offer an EHR program for education and training.

The offerings that are coming out address the barriers to adoption of EHRs for small physician practices - cost and training and management. Dell's one-stop shop adds the financing piece that will make a difference to some physicians.

The good news is that the private market is responding with a variety of models that will meet the different needs of physicians in small offices. The big question is: Who will have the best interests of these busy physicians at heart and guide them to the right product for them?