GE Buy Targets Small Practices

GE Healthcare has acquired MedPlexus Inc., a vendor of software for small, independent physician practices, for an undisclosed sum.

The acquisition expands GE's initiative to target independent practices, which are a primary focus of the economic stimulus package's incentive payments for meaningful use of electronic health records.

Sunnyvale, Calif.-based MedPlexus generally targets practices with 10 or fewer physicians. It offers integrated practice management, electronic records and patient portal software. The applications can be sold as a package or individually, and hosted by the vendor or the client. The acquisition gives GE remote hosting capability for smaller practices.

GE declined to disclose the number of customers MedPlexus serves but acknowledges the installed base is small. "We've acquired them because of their targeted services in a strategic market we were already working in and believe their portfolio will only serve to accelerate our growth in that area," according to a spokesperson.
MedPlexus has about 100 employees in its Sunnyvale office and a development facility in Hyderabad, India.

--Joseph Goedert