Xerox ($XRX), best known for its copy machines and document management systems, is investing in HealthSpot, a telemedicine provider that sets up kiosks that connect patients with physicians.
The capital infusion will help HealthSpot accelerate the number of kiosks it plans on installing at retailers such as Rite Aid and other locations like long-term care centers and emergency departments, the company said in a press release.
As part of the deal, Xerox will merge HealthSpot's software platform with its own and supply HealthSpot with cloud hosting, system integration, claims eligibility and claims submissions systems. The kiosks will use Xerox's IT infrastructure for appointment booking as well as an interface to electronic health records and insurance coordination, the company said.
HealthSpot has about 20 stations located in four states that include healthcare facilities run by the Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, Miami Children's Hospital, Kaiser Permanente and MetroHealth. Recently, HealthSpot announced it was entering into a pilot program with Rite Aid to put kiosks in select Ohio stores.
The kiosks are designed to diagnose nonemergency health issues and are equipped with interactive medical devices that patients are directed to use by a physician speaking to them through a videoconferencing system.
Xerox isn't alone in wanting to dip its toe into the telemedicine market. Last year Medtronic ($MDT) purchased remote patient monitoring firm Cardiocom for $200 million as its push into services gathered momentum. Shortly after the announcement, Medtronic CEO Omar Ishrak said during an earnings call that he "is determined to transform Medtronic from being a primarily device provider today into the premier global medical technology solutions partner of tomorrow."
- see the Xerox release