GE's QuietCare
This article was originally published in The Gray Sheet
Executive Summary
GE Healthcare acquires QuietCare passive activity monitoring system for seniors through its purchase on Dec. 1 of Living Independently Group Inc. for undisclosed terms. The deal builds on the firms' 2008 global marketing and co-development pact for the technology, which uses wireless sensors to "non-intrusively track the daily patterns of seniors' activities" and "alerts caregivers to behavioral changes that may signal potential health issues," GE explains. Last April, GE cited QuietCare development among the aims of its alliance with Intel to invest $250 million over five years in "development of new technologies to assist independent living for seniors and patients with chronic diseases" (1"The Gray Sheet" April 6, 2009). QuietCare is also part of GE's "Healthymagination" initiative to "increase access, reduce cost and increase quality in healthcare delivery" (2"The Gray Sheet" May 11, 2009)