GE Medical–Mecon merger creates Healthcare Solutions subsidiaryModality vendor enters Web database marketGE Medical Systems has acquired Mecon, a provider of healthcare data mining software, in what appears to be a strategic move to
Modality vendor enters Web database market
GE Medical Systems has acquired Mecon, a provider of healthcare data mining software, in what appears to be a strategic move to continue diversifying its modality systems offerings into healthcare information technologies. Following the acquisition, San Ramon, CA-based Mecon has changed its name to GE Medical Systems Healthcare Solutions. In this transaction, Mecon shareholders received $11.25 per share payable in GE stock, or 0.081 shares of GE stock for each share of Mecon common stock held at the close of the merger, plus cash for fractional shares.
Consistent with its recent emphasis on integration of productivity and workflow (PNN 1/00), Waukesha, WI-based GE will work with the new Healthcare Solutions group to develop Internet-based applications to control costs and provide quality management to customers. Healthcare Solutions claims that its current performance improvement products generally identify 10% to 14% potential savings in operating expenses for customers.
In January, Healthcare Solutions launched two free tools through its Mecon.com Web portal. The Mecon 25th Index allows healthcare providers to compare their actual performance against the top 25% of Mecons customers in its Peernext operational benchmarking database, which creates benchmarks from the data it collects. The BBA Calculator calculates the effect of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 on operating margin and allows companies to modify inputs to assess effects of budget cuts. However, Mecon does not allow anonymous posting; users must provide the facility name and contact information before logging on to these services.
Because the merger has just been finalized, it is unclear how Mecons products will be affected under the new GE Healthcare Solutions banner. The development of cost control and quality management products that GE and Mecon tout in recent press releases does not perceptibly differ from the benchmarking and data mining products and services that Mecon was already offering, aside from GEs intention to integrate Six Sigma across Healthcare Solutions Web-based databases and benchmarking tools.
© 2000 Miller Freeman, Inc., a United News & Media company.
MRI-Based AI Radiomics Model Offers 'Robust' Prediction of Perineural Invasion in Prostate Cancer
July 26th 2024A model that combines MRI-based deep learning radiomics and clinical factors demonstrated an 84.8 percent ROC AUC and a 92.6 percent precision-recall AUC for predicting perineural invasion in prostate cancer cases.
Breast MRI Study Examines Common Factors with False Negatives and False Positives
July 24th 2024The absence of ipsilateral breast hypervascularity is three times more likely to be associated with false-negative findings on breast MRI and non-mass enhancement lesions have a 4.5-fold likelihood of being linked to false-positive results, according to new research.
Can Polyenergetic Reconstruction Help Resolve Streak Artifacts in Photon Counting CT?
July 22nd 2024New research looking at photon-counting computed tomography (PCCT) demonstrated significantly reduced variation and tracheal air density attenuation with polyenergetic reconstruction in contrast to monoenergetic reconstruction on chest CT.