EMIS acquires Digital Healthcare
GP and pharmacy software supplier EMIS has acquired screening company Digital Healthcare in a £3.1m deal.
Digital Healthcare, which is based in Cambridge, is a provider of diabetic retinopathy screening and other ophthalmology-related solutions to community clinics, mobile units, specialist ophthalmology departments and practitioners.
Leeds-based EMIS said the acquisition is in line with its stated strategy of providing cross-organisational healthcare systems.
Chris Spencer, CEO of EMIS, said: “I am delighted to welcome Digital Healthcare to the EMIS group. Diabetic retinopathy is the most common cause of blindness in the UK and it has been estimated that screening services could save more than 400 people per year from sight loss in England alone.
“As well as the obvious health benefits for those suffering from this long-term condition, we see immediate opportunities for the group in the provision of hosted services and a full end-to-end managed Diabetic Retinopathy screening service. In the medium term we also see further scope to integrate primary, community and acute healthcare and data for those at risk.”
EMIS said the acquisition provides the group with a “strong position in a profitable niche market adjacent to EMIS group’s core presence in GP and Community Pharmacy systems”.
Digital Healthcare has 35 employees, all of whom are expected to remain with the business. For the year ended September 30 2012, Digital Healthcare reported pre-tax profit of approximately £0.1m on revenue of £3.4m. Until recently, non-executive chairman of EMIS, Mike O’Leary, was also chairman of Digital Healthcare.
