Voalte to be acquired by Hill-Rom for $180M

Voalte, the maker of communications tools for hospitals and other health organizations, will be acquired by Hill-Rom Holdings, which provides various technology and equipment for hospitals, for $180 million. The deal also includes potentially an extra $15 million, pending the company's achievement of certain performance milestones. Voalte, founded in 2008, is a leading provider of real-time, mobile communication technology for hospitals and health systems. The Hill-Rom deal will enable enhancements and improvements to the capabilities of its communications platform, officials said. Hill-Rom, for its part, used the "I" word when explaining its rationale for the acquisition of Voalte, whose annual revenues are about $40 million. "Interoperability and connectivity have become critical elements in providing quality healthcare, reducing length of stay and driving efficiencies across the healthcare continuum," said John P. Groetelaars, president and CEO of Hill-Rom. The deal will help enhance deliver of "connected care to improve workflow and real-time actionable insights at the point of care," he said.