Telstra (ASX: TLS) announced today that it is acquiring the Health Division of Database Consultants Australia (DCA), pushing ahead with plans to expand its new Health portfolio. DCA's division dominates the community care software market in Australia, providing services as varied as secure messaging to directory databases.
"Connectivity will play a crucial role in the future delivery and management of health services," said Telstra's Health Head Shane Solomon in a statement today. "The future of health care will see more patients cared for at home and technology will play a critical role."
Solomon considers Telstra's latest acquisition to be an "important foundation asset" for his new division. Telstra hopes to merge its communication assets with the health care sector to support at-home care, inter-health centre communication, and new avenues for confidential information sharing between all health care stakeholders.
This latest move is the first stand-alone acquisition for Telstra's health portfolio, but follows close on the heels of investments in IPHealth's electronic health records and Health Engine's health directory. Financial details of the transaction were not included in Telstra's press release.
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Motley Fool contributor Justin Loiseau has no position in any stocks mentioned in this article. You can follow him on Twitter @TMFJLo.
