Philips Homes In on Respironics: Fills Gaps in Care Continuum

No company has done more to wrap its arms around the whole area of patient monitoring--both in and out of the hospital--than Philips Medical Systems. Since early 2006, Philips has made at least seven acquisitions that have helped it create the infrastructure for a telehealth approach to disease management, including monitoring equipment, IT, and emergency response services. To close out 2007, Philips announced an additional acquisition: a $5.1 billion all-cash offer for respiratory therapy provider Respironics, to buy the leading company in a universe of only three independent companies focused on obstructive sleep apnea, the fastest growing market in home health monitoring.