Philips to Acquire Irish Healthcare IT Company

Philips Healthcare (Best, The Netherlands) announced it will acquire Tomcat Systems, Ltd. (Belfast, UK).

Terms of this acquisition were not disclosed. Tomcat is a developer of a software system that collects and aggregates data relative to the cardiac care of patients, and allows for a comprehensive, patient-centric presentation of this information to caregivers such as physicians and nurses.

Through this acquisition, Philips will expand the use of information technology in healthcare--and specifically in its cardiology business--to improve patient outcomes and help hospitals work more efficiently. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2008, upon which Tomcat will become part of the Healthcare Informatics business group within the Philips Healthcare sector.

Oran Muduroglu, general manager of the Healthcare Informatics business group within Philips Healthcare, explained, "Tomcat's solution is a great match with our current cardiology information systems, and as such already implemented as a total solution in various hospitals. Philips will now accelerate introduction of this integrated cardiology information solution in North America and in other selected markets.”

Tomcat's software addresses both the clinical and operational needs of a cardiovascular service line. It connects with different clinical information systems such as cath lab workflow-management systems, and picture archiving and communications systems (PACS). Tomcat is able to connect to Philips' Xcelera and Philips Xper Information Management systems, and with systems from other vendors. Tomcat's software also provides scheduling, staff and resource management, cost capturing, and the generation of reports and statistical information, thereby supporting the management of a cardiovascular service line.

Tomcat is a privately held company that develops, markets, and supports cardiovascular information systems (CVIS). Demand for CVIS software is accelerating as awareness of the benefits of such systems at hospitals is growing, and it is estimated that the global industry for cardiology informatics, which includes comprehensive CVIS solutions, will grow to more than EUR 400 million in 2011 from an estimated EUR 275 million in 2008.


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