Andover, Mass.-- Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG; AEX: PHI) and Misys Healthcare Systems, a leader in healthcare IT, has announced a plan to join forces to provide a comprehensive solution for the homecare market. The companies intend to develop an integrated software platform that enables homecare agencies to provide high quality care to chronically ill patients, while benefiting from operational efficiencies in monitoring and managing their patients' health status.

Through this nonexclusive agreement, the companies seek to combine Philips' experience in telehealth and remote patient monitoring with Misys' expertise as one of the leading providers of clinical and business software for the U.S. homecare market. Misys and Philips intend to work together to offer deeper integration of vital signs data and health status information into the patient record, providing a more comprehensive clinical review application than is currently available from telehealth providers today. The goal is to provide a powerful solution that helps homecare agencies optimize care for patients most in need of clinical attention, in order to reduce hospital readmissions and healthcare costs associated with chronic disease.

Philips offers wireless telemonitoring measurement devices, robust clinical content -- including patient education, validated health surveys and risk assessment tools -- as well as wide-ranging service delivery support and innovative pricing models. Misys brings a fully integrated financial and clinical management solution, including point-of-care, to the homecare industry.
"Telemonitoring, in conjunction with early intervention and self-care education, can extend the reach of care and improve patients' quality of life," says Mike Lemnitzer, senior director, Philips Consumer Healthcare Solutions. "Studies have shown that remote monitoring can lead to significant reductions in unnecessary readmissions and emergency hospitalizations, helping ease the burden of rising healthcare costs due to chronic disease.[i]"

By integrating telehealth information into its clinical platform, Misys believes a combined software solution would enable homecare agencies to boost operational efficiency and quality scores, in addition to improving patient safety and oversight. "Misys is focused on providing cost-effective solutions for the home healthcare market. By providing a better way to monitor and manage home-bound patients and schedule clinical staff, we can help homecare agencies improve both productivity and patient care," according to Jeneane Brian, clinical strategy executive for Misys Healthcare Systems.

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