Wolters Kluwer to Acquire Emmi Solutions for $170 Million to Advance Patient Self-Management Capabilities

Recently, Wolters Kluwer announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire Emmi Solutions, an online patient self-management platform, for $170 million in an all-cash transaction. This acquisition strengthens Wolters Kluwer’s strategic positioning within the health informatics value chain. For Emmi Solutions, 95% of whose total revenue is derived from the U.S. market, leveraging Wolters Kluwer’s robust distribution channels will help accelerate its expansion into international markets.

Wolters Kluwer, headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, was founded in 1836.One of the world's leading developers of pharmaceutical information database products.It has consistently focused on delivering high-quality digital information services, leveraging mobile and web-based electronic platforms to provide enterprises with workflow application software and solutions. It holds significant advantages in cloud computing, mobile devices, and information search. The acquisition of Emmi Solutions was driven by its strengths in multimedia interaction and visual information platforms, which can effectively help healthcare institutions improve efficiency and the quality of care during patient management.

Emmi Solutions (formerly Rightfield Solutions) was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in Chicago. Initially, the company provided physicians with online documentation to help them clearly explain disease conditions and treatment plans to patients, thereby mitigating risks such as medical malpractice claims. In 2006, the company officially changed its name and expanded its scope of business.

In its core business, Emmi possesses profound insights into patient behavior and health management. Leveraging its cloud-based platform, it empowers patients to cultivate healthy habits and become proactive managers of their own health. This approach aligns with current healthcare trends, as hospitals, medical institutions, health IT platforms, and patients themselves are gradually shifting their focus from disease diagnosis and treatment toward personal health management.

Emmi offers three technology platforms to its clients, primarily hospitals. EmmiEngage is mainly designed for hospitals and clinics. By providing simplified visual information, it helps doctors and patients understand the entire disease treatment process, optimize treatment steps, inform doctors about more efficient treatment methods and tools, and simultaneously enhance patients’ confidence and satisfaction with their care.

For 20% of patients, approximately three weeks after experiencing a major illness, care typically transitions from the treatment phase to the recovery and nursing phase. At this stage, healthcare institutions require effective and flexible post-discharge care solutions. EmmiTransition integrates online multimedia networks with automated telephone systems to encourage patients in self-managed health care, stimulate their confidence in recovery, and facilitate earlier discharge to home.

Health management is not merely about providing solutions when people fall ill; most importantly, it involves cultivating healthy lifestyle habits in daily life. Traditional medical institutions, overwhelmed by large patient volumes, have struggled to allocate resources effectively and foster habit formation. By integrating automated and interactive telephone services with the EmmiEngage platform, EmmiPrevent can effectively encourage patients to take ownership of their health and develop healthy habits.

Devin Gross, CEO of Emmi Solutions, has publicly stated, “To date, many medical interventions have focused solely on the acute phase of patient care, such as disease diagnosis and inpatient surgical treatment. However, widespread changes in the healthcare system will require institutions to build strong relationships with patients. Accompanying this shift will be the use of advanced big data and analytical tools to segment populations and help them develop healthy habits.”

Regarding this acquisition, Diana Nole, CEO of Wolters Kluwer Health, stated: “In the healthcare sector, we already have the clinical decision support system UpToDate (An evidence-based clinical knowledge system authored by physicians to help doctors make accurate decisions.) and the comprehensive drug database platform Lexicomp (Pharmacists, physicians, nurses, and dentists worldwide rely on Lexicomp’s comprehensive and precise information to enhance medication safety, improve patient outcomes, and increase work efficiency.) and Medi-Span, leveraging Emmi’s strengths in patient self-care, we are able to provide healthcare institutions and patients with comprehensive, high-quality, big data-driven treatment and care solutions that span the entire healthcare journey.” As for return on investment, Emmi’s revenue is projected to reach $29 million this year, and Wolters Kluwer will realize substantial returns upon the full completion of the integration over the next three to five years.