Elsevier’s acquisition of ExitCare marks the publisher’s first patient engagement deal. ExitCare develops discharge instruction and patient education information, including a medication management solution. In an interview with MedCity News, Jay Katzen, managing director of Elsevier’s Clinical Decision Support, talked about the deal in the context of Meaningful Use goals and reducing readmissions.
What does this acquisition give Elsevier that it didn’t have before?
“This acquisition allows Elsevier to offer a more comprehensive suite of evidence-based clinical information, critical to the clinician’s work flow and a highly integrated decision-support solution. This aligns with the increased demand for a more sophisticated, enhanced level of patient engagement throughout the care continuum. Ultimately, the new offerings will advance Elsevier’s customers’ ability to achieve Meaningful Use goals through ExitCare’s MU certified software program.”
What have some of your other recent acquisitions been?
“Our most recent acquisitions were CPM Resource Center (evidence-based clinical tools and decision-support solutions in 2007) and MEDai (a predictive analytics company in 2008).”
What challenges are ahead for Elsevier in filling gaps in patient content?
“ExitCare recently acquired PatientEDU to offer video-based patient education, which provides a multimedia patient education experience. We see the natural evolution of ExitCare’s promise as the basis for additional solutions to meet burgeoning patient engagement requirements.”
How much are the EMR vendors influencing these deals?
“We are always looking for ways to better integrate with EHR vendors, and we integrate with several now. Because hospitals, health systems and physicians are all required to go electronic, making that integration as seamless and valuable as possible is important to our business.”
What are some of the trends shaping out in the patient content market?
“A trend facing the patient content market include reducing readmissions through proper discharge instruction and follow-up. Elsevier is moving beyond discharge information to leverage patient education in support of ongoing population health management, patient engagement and risk reduction.”
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By Stephanie Baum
Stephanie Baum is the East Coast Innovation Reporter for MedCityNews.com. She enjoys covering healthcare startups across health IT, drug development and medical devices and innovations deployed to improve medical care. She graduated from Franklin & Marshall College in Pennsylvania and has worked across radio, print and video. She's written for The Christian Science Monitor, Dow Jones & Co. and United Business Media.Visit website | More posts by Author
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