Health Insight Capital, a subsidiary of HCA, has invested an undisclosed amount into AirStrip Technologies, which offers a number of apps built on its AppPoint platform that securely send critical patient information from hospital monitoring systems, bedside devices, and electronic health records to a clinician's smartphone. HCA (Hospital Corporation of America) has about 163 hospitals and 109 freestanding surgery centers. HCA has facilities throughout the US and some in England.
HCA was one of the first hospital groups to adopt AirStrip's technology. It first began using the AirStripOB application in 2007. AirStripOB is widely considered the first iPhone medical app to secure FDA 510(k) clearance -- the FDA cleared an earlier, pre-iPhone version of the software in 2004.
This week HCA announced an expanded rollout of AirStrip's mobile monitoring apps. AirStrip's most recently launched offering, AirStrip Cardiology, has already been deployed to a handful of HCA facilities, but the app will see wider use among HCA-affiliated physicians thanks to the expanded deal. AirStrip Cardiology enables physicians to view real-time electrocardiograms (ECGs) and access historical ECG data on smartphones.
“AirStrip is a leading innovator that we have worked with for several years,” R. Milton Johnson, HCA’s President and Chief Financial Officer stated in a company release. “Our collaboration with AirStrip promotes quality patient care by offering physicians the latest technology to access real-time patient data on mobile devices, while our investment facilitates the expansion of AirStrip’s platform and capability. We are pleased that Health Insight Capital’s investment activities continue to support demonstrated innovators in the healthcare sector.”
Last week Qualcomm Life Fund announced an investment in AirStrip, too. AirStrip and Qualcomm Life have also teamed up to create a new use case for AirStrip's remote monitoring technology in home health care settings. Like the HCA investment the amount of the Qualcomm Life Fund investment amount was also undisclosed.
In November AirStrip announced a $4.3 million deal with another large hospital group Catholic Healthcare West.
More on the HCA deal in the press release below:
PRESS RELEASE: NASHVILLE, Tenn.--HCA today announced a collaboration with AirStrip Technologies, Inc. that includes expanded use of AirStrip’s mobile patient monitoring software and a financial investment in the company.
HCA’s Health Insight Capital subsidiary invested in AirStrip alongside the expansion of HCA and AirStrip’s commercial collaboration. Health Insight Capital makes equity investments in early stage companies that are selected to provide innovative solutions for use in HCA’s operations.
“AirStrip is a leading innovator that we have worked with for several years,” said R. Milton Johnson, HCA’s President and Chief Financial Officer. “Our collaboration with AirStrip promotes quality patient care by offering physicians the latest technology to access real-time patient data on mobile devices, while our investment facilitates the expansion of AirStrip’s platform and capability. We are pleased that Health Insight Capital’s investment activities continue to support demonstrated innovators in the healthcare sector.”
HCA will expand the availability of AirStrip products to physicians at its hospitals. AirStrip CARDIOLOGY, has been in use at a limited number of HCA facilities but soon will be available for broader use by HCA-affiliated physicians. The software allows physicians to view real-time electrocardiograms (ECGs) and access historical ECG data on mobile devices. Physicians at most HCA hospitals that offer obstetrical services have been using AirStrip OB, which enables obstetricians to remotely monitor fetal heart rates, since 2007.
Other terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
