Mergers & Acquisitions

The vendor, which focuses on small and rural healthcare providers, is interested in a suite of tools for chronic care management and aggregation of clinical and personal health data.

As the cloud IT company continues its post-acquisition merger with Virence Health, the consolidation means job losses for some 200 employees.

A new report in Health Affairs looks at the success rate of hospital IT system integration, post-consolidation.

South Australia will soon be home to a new $100 million healthcare precinct, with aims to bolster health and medical innovation, services and employment in northern Adelaide. The Northern Health Consortium – a syndicate consisting of Barwon Investment Partners and developers Leyton Property and Accord Property – will build this new health and medical precinct as part of the Healthia site adjacent to Lyell McEwin Hospital. The consortium said it will construct two purpose-built multi-level, clinical buildings for public and private ambulatory care services, mental health services, diagnostic imaging, pathology, general practice services, medical consulting rooms and childcare. The precinct also aims to support private, public and not-for-profit healthcare services, and forms part of the Barwon Institutional Healthcare Property Fund, which has invested about $500 million into Australian healthcare real estate. According to the consortium, the development will create “one of the largest health and medical precincts in South Australia”, in addition to creating approximately 150 ongoing jobs once the precinct opens. Accord Property Managing Director Lachy Hogarth said the build is a positive step for the community and will drive better healthcare and research for economic and social benefits in the region. “There’s a clear shortfall in community medical services in the region. As such, we will work closely with key public, private and non-for-profit stakeholders throughout the development process to deliver a first-class facility for the community,” he said. “This project will create local jobs, not only during construction, but offer long-term skilled employment for the area. We’re delighted to be able to work in collaboration with such an experienced project team to deliver these vital health and medical facilities.” Construction is scheduled to commence in early 2020 ahead of its anticipated completion in 2021.   [Read more: NSW showcases its vision for a healthcare precinct combining clinical care, research and academia | SA Government plunges funds into healthcare facilities in a Budget designed to heal wounds] The creation of this healthcare precinct is similar to the vision that the NSW Government presented in 2017, with the proposed combination of the University of New South Wales and Randwick hospitals into a mega-campus. Commissioning of this building is planned for early 2023. The NSW Government also recently contributed $740 million towards a new world-class health, research and education precinct in Liverpool in Sydney’s west. Located at Liverpool Hospital, the precinct aims to create a hub for innovation and emerging technologies, boost the economy and create jobs growth. The move also follows the Victorian Government announcing plans to create the Australian Medical Robotics Academy in Melbourne’s Parkville precinct, to train surgeons to conduct minimally invasive surgery for prostate cancer and other conditions. The Australian Medical Robotics Academy is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

The company has more than 200 healthcare clients, with more than 84,000 mobile devices on its platform connecting some 220,000 providers with voice, alarm and text capabilities.

Carestream Health announced this morning that it had signed an agreement to sell its healthcare information systems business to Philips. Carestream general manager for healthcare information solutions Ludovic D’Aprea said they “have had global success in providing radiology and enterprise imaging IT systems”, but added: “By becoming part of Philips, the HCIS business will have a greater opportunity to thrive and grow. Both organizations share a commitment to meaningful innovation which is deeply embedded in each company’s culture. "Customers will have access to a broader portfolio of healthcare IT solutions to simplify medical image management, enable effective collaboration and enhance patient care.” Carestream said it would retain its medical imaging, dental and industrial films, non-destructive testing, and precision coating businesses. “Our focus will be on delivering innovation that is life changing—for patients, customers, channel partners, communities and other stakeholders—and we will grow the company for long-term success,” said David Westgate, chairman, president and CEO of Carestream. The companies will continue to operate independently until the close of the sale, which is expected to take place in the second half of the year. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The addition of the medication management technology will give senior living providers and pharmacies more choice and flexibility through a single vendor, the company said.

The company says the acquisition will enable NTT to broaden its security offerings for digital transformation.

As healthcare startups boom, providers must embrace disruption and forge new relationships with tech companies, says a new report from the Chartis Group.

Aprima, which this week earned Best in KLAS ranking in the Small Practice Ambulatory EHR/PM category, also develops rev cycle tech for providers.