Welch Allyn acquires Nebraska medical-software firm’s assets

SKANEATELES FALLS, N.Y. — Welch Allyn, Inc., a Skaneateles Falls–based manufacturer of medical-diagnostic equipment, today announced the acquisition of substantially all the assets of HealthInterlink, LLC of Omaha, Neb.

HealthInterlink is a medical software company and developer of a software-based remote patient vital-signs monitoring system. This is Welch Allyn’s first foray into remote patient vital-signs monitoring, the company said.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

HealthInterlink’s telehealth product incorporates wireless patient-monitoring devices and a mobile gateway device, (like a tablet or smartphone) that transmits vital-signs data, answers to patient-care plan questions, and patient messages to a HIPAA-compliant cloud-based web portal for patient-data management by health-care professionals, Welch Allyn explained in a news release.

The acquisition of the HealthInterlink assets offers Welch Allyn a “unique opportunity to better serve its U.S. customers by offering them [a technology] solution optimized for cost-effective collection and delivery of remote health information,” according to Welch Allyn President and CEO, Stephen Meyer.

“The acquisition of HealthInterlink’s assets is exciting news for Welch Allyn and is in keeping with our vision to help transform care wherever patients and healthcare professionals connect,” Meyer said in the release. “As healthcare delivery becomes decentralized and extends beyond the traditional acute and ambulatory care locations where our offerings are used today, we intend to provide solutions that enable providers to deliver high quality care, regardless of location.”

During a transition period, HealthInterlink’s current product will continue to be developed, sourced, and sold by the Nebraska firm’s existing workforce, the news release stated.

Remote patient monitoring provides a solution for managing the increasing rise and cost of chronic disease, Welch Allyn contends. The company says it will have a particular focus on helping primary care physicians and cardiologists manage hypertensive patients.

“This acquisition will enable us to help clinicians prioritize patient care, allowing for early intervention and facilitating communication with patients outside traditional healthcare settings,” Meyer said in the release. “Furthermore, we believe that this represents an exciting opportunity to advance the trend of investing in non-hospitalized and post-acute care monitoring to help take cost out of the system and help patients adhere to treatment plans—in the doctor’s office and beyond.”

Welch Allyn employs more than 2,600 people in 26 different countries. It has 1,300 employees in Central New York, according to CNYBJ Research.

Contact Rombel at arombel@cnybj.com