Healthcare Technology and Information Companies to Merge

Companion Technologies, a healthcare information technology company, has acquired SDS (Smart Document Solutions), a health information management company based in Alpharetta, Georgia. SDS specializes in medical release-of-information, document management, and healthcare consulting.

Companion Technologies, based in Columbia, South Carolina, plans to merge with SDS. Companion Technologies offers physician practice management solutions, electronic medical record (EMR), and revenue cycle management solutions. The company was acquired by ABRY Partners and the Thurston Group in December 2006.

SDS and Companion Technologies are both included in the Top 100 HIT Companies by Revenue list featured in the June 2007 issue of Healthcare Informatics. Patrick J. Haynes III, Chairman of the combined companies comments, “both companies have a critical mass of healthcare customers including over 1,200 hospitals; 27,000 physicians; and combined revenue of over $165 million.”

Frank Murphy, President and CEO of SDS explains, “We carefully considered the complementary nature and mix of products and services each company brings to the table.” He adds, “Throughout the process, our vision and mission statements were top of mind to ensure the merger would not only benefit the company but also our large number of customers and employees.” Mike Labedz, President of Companion Technologies comments, “This union makes it possible for us to offer an entire suite of solutions that balances our existing technologies, improves business processes, and helps healthcare organizations connect the paper of today with the EHR of tomorrow.”

The newly combined company will be a leading player in the health information management industry, offering a comprehensive line of products and services specifically designed to address the health information management and technology needs of healthcare organizations throughout the nation. The company will be renamed HealthPort® after SDS’s well-known line of products. However, both SDS and Companion Technologies will continue to operate under their respective names for a short period before the name change is complete.

Frank Murphy, CEO and President of SDS and Mike Labedz, President of Companion Technologies, will continue to oversee their respective divisions.