Barco Acquires Patient Bedside Terminal Provider JAOtech

Healthcare imaging specialist Barco (Kortrijk, Belgium) has agree to acquire JAOtech (Redhill, Surrey, United Kingdom), a leading manufacturer of patient entertainment and point-of-care (POC) terminals for hospitals.

The acquisition is set to broaden Barco’s offering of POC terminals and associated software, along with a growth strategy of expanding into multiple healthcare segments and increasing healthcare efficiency. The JAOtech product line includes Smart Terminals for bedside applications, which are fully customizable and feature a range of modular options such as barcode scanners, smart card, and radio frequency identification (RFID) readers. The line also includes an ergonomic range of mounting solutions and accessories, such as medical keyboards, mounting arms, and wall boxes.

The terminals provide a core solution for a host of interactive healthcare applications that integrate seamlessly with the hospital information system (HIS), offering secure access to Electronics Medical Records (EMR) and vital patient information. The terminals also provide triple-play solutions for patient entertainment, offering an array of education and entertainment tools, such as TV, radio, and access to e-mail and the internet.

“This acquisition fits in our long-term vision of penetrating a wide range of healthcare segments. Today, Barco is market leader in mammography, diagnostic and modality imaging,” said Piet Candeel, senior vice president of Barco and general manager of Barco’s Healthcare division. “With the acquisition of JAOtech, we strengthen our position as market leader in healthcare visualization, as the JAOtech terminals enable us to become a leading player in the patient point of care segment.”

“We are very pleased to become a member of the Barco family,” added Warren Kressinger-Dunn, CEO of JAOtech. “Hospitals around the world are starting to consider the enormous potential of patient bedside entertainment and communication systems. This agreement allows us to capitalize on Barco's leading position in the healthcare industry, which will definitely help us to expand our reach in the marketplace and become a world player in healthcare.”

Related Links:
Barco
JAOtech