GE acquires CHCA, an OR software specialist

BARRINGTON, Ill. – GE Healthcare announced that it has agreed to acquire CHCA Computer Systems Inc., an operating room (OR) management and analytics solutions provider, headquartered in Montreal, Canada. CHCA develops the Opera software application, which has helped increase productivity and patient satisfaction in the OR by providing real-time data to support the decision making and management of surgical procedures.

This acquisition aligns with GE’s Industrial Internet strategy and recent commitment to invest in strong, innovative businesses that enhance GE’s software footprint. It marks GE’s second healthcare acquisition in software this year, following the acquisition of API Healthcare.

The operating room environment is complex. Clinicians and administrators face challenges in gaining accurate and real-time data to assist in scheduling staff, planning for surgical procedures and ensuring the availability of surgical materials. Having greater visibility into what is happening in the next hour and week in the OR helps to increase capacity and efficiency, and enhance the performance of surgical staff.

“A key tenet of our Industrial Internet investment is addressing new and pressing operational and productivity challenges facing healthcare. In the operating room – the epicenter of today’s hospital – better efficiency in turn benefits patients by reducing waiting times, preventing cancellations, and increasing patient throughput,” said Jan De Witte (pictured), President and CEO of GE Healthcare IT.

“CHCA’s Opera solution complements our current OR and Perioperative software portfolio and will allow us to deliver a more integrated offering that better connects the workflow throughout the OR, using a mix of software, real-time data and powerful analytics to help drive better outcomes for patients.”

CHCA has provided a robust operating room management solution for over 23 years, and since 2003 GE Healthcare has closely collaborated with CHCA to distribute and support this solution in Europe.

“Building on a fruitful partnership, this acquisition will further extend the delivery of this world-class operating room management solution to more customers globally,” said Jocelyne Thomassin, President, CHCA.

“More than ever, hospitals need systems that drive enterprise-wide efficiencies, reduce unnecessary costs and enable improved patient care,” said De Witte. “With this acquisition, we will now be able to offer more of our customers end-to-end workflow and decision support software solutions in high acuity care, an area in which hardware, software, and consulting solutions that drive outcomes represent a tremendous opportunity for GE Healthcare.”

The acquisition is anticipated to close in the second quarter of 2014. Financial terms were not disclosed.

About GE Healthcare

GE Healthcare provides transformational medical technologies and services to meet the demand for increased access, enhanced quality and more affordable healthcare around the world. GE (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter – great people and technologies taking on tough challenges. From medical imaging, software & IT, patient monitoring and diagnostics to drug discovery, biopharmaceutical manufacturing technologies and performance improvement solutions, GE Healthcare helps medical professionals deliver great healthcare to their patients.

About CHCA

CHCA has been developing and implementing innovative software solutions for healthcare management since 1992. CHCA’s mission has been to help customers improve the quality of services and care provided, improve patient security and reduce operating costs. Opera is an operating room management software application that provides clinicians and administrators with the available information on each surgical procedure planned, underway, or completed. Integrated and efficient, Opera supports decision-making and management of surgical procedures.