Virtual-led cardiopulmonary care provider Wellinks has announced the acquisition of Spire Health, a digital healthcare company that is into continuous respiratory monitoring and actionable feedback, in a non-cash deal.
This strategic move combines Spire's innovative patient monitoring technology with Wellinks' virtual-led approach, creating a fully integrated predictive patient care company.
The acquisition aims to address two of the most significant challenges in the US healthcare system: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and congestive heart failure (CHF), which affect millions of Americans.
As part of the acquisition, Wellinks welcomes Rich Wilmot to the board of directors, representing Spire’s majority investor, Gilde Healthcare.
Wellinks chairman and High Cape Capital managing partner Kevin Rakin said: “By combining these companies, we are now at the forefront of applying predictive analytics to the clinical care of cardiopulmonary patients.
“With this acquisition, Wellinks can now offer payors and providers a new means of managing COPD and CHF patients, utilising patient data, predictive analytics, and highly specialised treatment pathways, all within our Predictive Patient Care model.”
Gilde Healthcare partner for HealthTech Venture & Growth Rich Wilmot said: “We are eager to see the potential of combining these two companies, their technologies and outstanding people. Since our initial investment in Spire Health, we’ve recognised the medical need and business potential to bring a more data-driven approach to managing highly complex patients with cardiopulmonary conditions. We believe this combined entity will realise this potential through a highly integrated patient care model and are delighted to be part of this exciting endeavour.”
COPD and CHF impact an estimated 14.2 million and 6.5 million people in the US, respectively, presenting substantial care and cost challenges.
Wellinks’ Predictive Patient Care utilises advanced analytics to provide healthcare providers with critical information and clinical interventions. These tools are designed to identify potential exacerbations and costly complications from COPD and CHF before they necessitate emergency care or hospitalisation.
The goal of Wellinks' approach is to enable early intervention, allowing most patients to remain at home or seek treatment from their primary healthcare professional in a more clinically effective and cost-efficient setting. This strategy is expected to improve care and significantly reduce costs, offering considerable benefits for payors and providers in both the value-based care and fee-for-service markets.
Wellinks CEO Stacie Bratcher said: “We are thrilled to welcome Spire professionals into our organisation, while also adding their amazing technology into our care models.
“By uniting these companies, we are creating something entirely novel — Predictive Patient Care. Wellinks will now be able to passively monitor cardiopulmonary patients while leveraging machine learning to predict potential complications, often before the patient experiences symptoms.
“These findings, combined with our proprietary clinical processes, will then provide payors and providers with suggested interventions based on validated treatment pathways. This highly integrated approach to monitoring and treating cardiopulmonary patients will be a first of its kind.”
This acquisition comes after Wellinks announced in July the appointment of Stacie Bratcher as its CEO.
Bratcher has more than two decades years of experience in leading companies providing innovative cardiopulmonary care.
