US health vendor Numera has acquired BlueLibris, a move that adds the latter’s expertise in telecare to Numera’s existing presence in the telehealth market. BlueLibris, also a US vendor, offers a small, wearable device that allows users to make hands-free voice calls as well as be tracked by GPS and an automated fall detection system, which are all key features in the telecare market. Numera will combine the device with its existing telehealth gateway so that users can now upload their biometric data as well as receive reminders about taking medication, supplying their own data as well as advice that is specific to their condition.

Tim Smokoff, Numera’s CEO, explained the logic of the deal by pointing to the expected future growth in the telehealth/telecare market which he said is expected to grow from US$1.1 billion today to over US$3 billion by 2017. Typically Smokoff said a person will need telehealth services for general health or chronic condition monitoring and then later have the need for the immediate response offered by a telecare service. “This acquisition makes it possible for Numera’s customers to have both, if they need them, on the same scaleable platform,” he said.