Stryker to Acquire care.ai to Bolster Healthcare IT

Stryker has begun a deal to acquire care.ai, a privately held company that specializes in artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted virtual care workflows, smart room technology, and ambient intelligence solutions.
 
The acquisition will bolster Stryker’s healthcare IT and wirelessly connected medical device portfolios. The company said this is of growing importance because its customers continue to face nursing shortages, employee retention difficulties, overworked and cognitively burdened staff, and growth in workplace safety concerns.
 
care.ai’s complementary tech integrates with the Vocera platform (acquired in 2022) and Stryker’s devices. The result aims to be an enterprise-wide ecosystem that can offer dynamic clinical workflows and further develop smart care facilities.
 
care.ai’s platform and sensors, according to the company, allow a number of AI-assisted workflows to deliver a responsive, personalized healthcare environment. That way, caregivers can spend more time with patients.
 
Solutions to be added to Stryker’s portfolio include virtual care, virtual nursing, workforce optimization, patient and protocol monitoring, infection control and prevention, patient and provider experience, compliance and process management, and real-time decision support.
 
“This acquisition underscores our commitment and focus on our customers,” said Andy Pierce, Group President, MedSurg and Neurotechnology, Stryker. “care.ai will help Stryker significantly accelerate our healthcare IT and digital vision to provide customers with real-time, smart and connected decision-making tools that enhance the lives of caregivers and their patients.”