Per-Se Technologies' decision to sell its Patient1
electronic patient record and computerised order entry system
reflects the growing competition in healthcare
informatics.
The $30m (£18m) deal gives control over the technology to
London-based Misys and allows Per-Se to reduce its debt load and
focus on products aimed at the administrative side of the
healthcare business.
Administrative technology is the area where Per-Se has the
largest presence, with two-thirds of the company's business,
according to Sean Jackson, an analyst at Avondale Partners.
By focusing on that area, Per-Se leaves a market that has seen
increasing competition from large, well-capitalised players, such
as McKesson, General Electric and Cerner.
"That [clinical] market is very competitive, and Per-Se wants to
reallocate their resources to an area that's less competitive," he
said.
Misys said it will maintain Patient1, renaming the medical
records system Misys CPR and the order entry system Misys CPOE.
The move boosts Misys' offerings in healthcare IT, which
includes PACS systems for radiology and laboratory management
products. The company says the decision should help create
efficiencies and contain costs.
Brian Reid writes for IDG News Service