Samsung buys Xealth to integrate consumer wearables and clinical data
Healthcare data integration company Xealth has been acquired by Samsung, the multinational electronics company, in an effort to “unify fragmented health information.”
According to an announcement, Samsung is looking to use the digital health platform from Xealth to improve data sharing from wearables, such as the Samsung Galaxy Smartwatch and other mobile devices.
Samsung said this will allow data collected by consumer electronics to be more readily used in clinical care settings.
“Samsung aims to improve the health of everyone through our extensive platform combining Samsung’s innovative technologies and open collaboration with industry leaders,” TM Roh, president of device experience at Samsung Electronics, said in a statement. “We believe the acquisition of Xealth, with its accumulated expertise and extensive healthcare network, will be an anchor to accelerate Samsung’s efforts to support health systems and digital health partners through truly connected care.”
Xealth is a spinoff from Providence, a health system based in Washington that operates a provider network all over the West Coast. The company became its own distinct entity in 2017, and it now works with more than 500 hospitals across the U.S., including major institutions like the Cleveland Clinic.
Working with Samsung will allow more clinical institutions to “fill in context that is missing” and “bring more data analysis possibilities that were not available just with clinical records,” Mike McSherry, CEO of Xealth said. Samsung Galaxy devices are used to monitor sleep health, heart rhythms and fitness—though much of that data on users ends up being limited to consumer use. The companies hope the transaction will allow for more patient care applications of the devices and resulting data.
The timing of the buyout is no coincidence. In June, Samsung announced it was developing a database for data gathered from everyday health devices, allowing it to be cleanly shared with providers. Xealth’s technology would ideally help make that a reality.
“Together with Samsung and our network of healthcare leaders, we will design a bridge between home health monitoring and clinical decision-making, with provider workflow considerations and patient engagement at the core of that effort,” McSherry added.
The deal is expected to be finalized later this year after regulatory approval, at which time Xealth will be a full subsidiary of Samsung. The financial details were not disclosed.
Chad is an award-winning writer and editor with over 15 years of experience working in media. He has a decade-long professional background in healthcare, working as a writer and in public relations.