Siemens takes over German healthcare IT company GSD
26 January 2007 Siemens Medical Solutions has strengthened its position
in the healthcare IT sector with the acquisition of Berlin-based
Gesellschaft für Systemforschung und Dienstleistungen im Gesundheitswesen
mbH (GSD). With more than 300 customers in 14 countries, GSD is a market
leader in the area of health information systems (HIS). The acquisition is
still subject to approval by the antitrust authorities. GSD's products
complements Siemens Medical Solutions’ global growth strategy in the
competitive healthcare information technology (IT) market, significantly
growing its current installed base of health information systems in Germany
and strengthening Siemens’ position as a leading provider of HIS.
After Diagnostic Products Corporation (DPC) and Bayer Diagnostics, the
takeover of GSD is Siemens Medical Solutions’ third acquisition in the past
three quarters alone. It continues Siemens' strategy of building the
industry’s first fully integrated diagnostics company that combines
diagnostic imaging, laboratory diagnostics and clinical information
technology under one roof along the value chain. GSD will enhance Siemens’
global healthcare IT portfolio with its i.s.h.med and Ambulatory Care
Management (ACM) product lines, while infusing additional industry expertise
into its product and service offerings for the European market. The combined
product portfolio is unique in its regional and functional market coverage.
GSD generated revenue of €25.6 million
and employed 168 people in fiscal year 2005 (ended December 31). GSD will be
a wholly owned subsidiary of Siemens Medical Solutions as part of the Health
Services division. “To improve quality and efficiency in healthcare, we
are putting our faith in optimized IT solutions such as our unique workflow
management system, Soarian,” said Erich R. Reinhardt, member of the Managing
Board of Siemens AG, and President and CEO of Siemens Medical Solutions.
“GSD’s enormous expertise in the development and implementation of health
information systems presented us with a convincing case. Accordingly, the
future will see us achieve even greater joint success in this area – with
innovative products, outstanding service and tailored solutions for our
customers.” Siemens Medical Solutions and GSD share a long-standing
partnership and related synergies, which will be leveraged to ensure
Siemens’ and GSD’s combined customers are optimally supported today and
well-positioned for the future through strong commitment to innovation and
R&D. For example, GSD’s expertise in developing and deploying i.s.h.med, its
SAP-based clinical HIS, will serve to further strengthen Siemens’ global
healthcare alliance with SAP. In addition, GSD best practices and expert
resources will play a key role in the further development of Siemens’
Soarian health information solution for the European market, while current
GSD customers gain the opportunity to benefit from Siemens’ deep domain
experience in clinical workflow improvement and process redesign.
With the United States currently the largest market for Soarian, Siemens
is gaining global momentum for the solution, customizing it for deployment
in key international markets. More than 41 Soarian-based workflows are
currently live in the US, UK, and Germany. Soarian’s core differentiator is
its unique-to-healthcare workflow engine that facilitates and tracks
technology-driven workflows designed to help users increase quality and
efficiency, improve patient safety, and achieve desired clinical and
financial outcomes. “In examining our long-term strategic position and the
intensive resources required to ensure a viable future in the global
marketplace, we determined that pairing with a strong industry leader like
Siemens would be the right approach to help protect our customers’ current
investments and best position them for the future,” said Stefan Herm,
Managing Director of GSD.
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