Telstra buys Silver Chain tech arm

Telstra has entered into an agreement to acquire the technology subsidiary of not-for-profit health and community care organisation Silver Chain Group for an undisclosed sum.

Australia’s largest telco plans to buy EOS Technologies, which provides client and resource management solutions for health, aged and community care, and integrate the target’s ComCare management system into its HealthConnex business.

Silver Chain Group is the result of the 2011 tie-up of Western Australia-based Silver Chain and South Australian firm RDNS.

Silver Chain is ranked at #7 on the BNiQ list of Not For Profit Businesses, ranked by WA revenue in the most recent financial year.

“We are excited about the potential of EOS Technologies to deliver a more connected healthcare solution by combining advanced technology with expert professional care for our aged and community care customers around Australia,” Telstra Health head of provider applications Michael Boyce said.

“This acquisition, when combined with our HealthCOnnex and iCareHealth solutions, will allow us to provide the best community care and residential aged care eHealth platform in Australia.

“The number of Australians over 85 will more than triple from 2012 to 2050, and this is the primary group at risk of chronic disease requiring care services in the home to avoid hospital admissions or residential aged care support.”

Silver Chain chief executive Chris McGowan said the sale of the group’s technology development arm had been in the works for some time, but the company was looking for the right partner.

“EOS makes a significant contribution to the way the industry functions and it was crucial to find someone who could take it to the next level so that the entire health industry can benefit from its development,” he said.

“We now have the opportunity to do that by leveraging Telstra’s communications technology and HealthConnex’s position as a leading community care solutions provider.”

Telstra shares were 0.3 per cent lower to $5.64 each at 12:30pm.