3M to purchase SoftMed Systems

3M Health Information Systems has announced that it has signed an agreement for the purchase of SoftMed Systems, a health information management software and services provider. It has not announced the details of the acquisition.

With this purchase, 3M will extend its health information systems business to include the practical technologies of SoftMed Systems. 3M added that as a result of the acquisition, the companies could offer clients the most comprehensive collection of products available from one seller in health information management.

Don Segal, chief executive officer of SoftMed Systems, said: “As part of 3M, we see tremendous opportunities to provide our products to even more health care organisations internationally through 3M’s strong global network.”

He added that the company’s established history of providing technology combined with the consulting business of 3M would result in improved growth.

SoftMed Systems’ products and services include the creation of electronic patient records based on templates, document scanning, voice dictation and speech recognition software and electronic signatures.

In October, 3M announced that John K Woodworth would replace James T Mahan as senior vice president of corporate supply chain operations, while Dr Frederick J Palensky was appointed named executive vice president of research and development and chief technology officer.