Best Buy makes big healthcare buy
By HME News Staff
Updated Thu August 16, 2018
MINNEAPOLIS - Best Buy has signed a definitive agreement to buy Great Call, a San Diego-based provider of connected health and personal emergency response services to the aging population, for $800 million in cash. Great Call says it has more than 900,000 paying subscribers. “We know technology can improve the quality of life of the aging population and those who care for them,” said Hubert Joly, chairman and CEO of Best Buy. “Now, we have a great opportunity to serve the needs of these customers by combining GreatCall's expertise with Best Buy's unique merchandising, marketing, sales and services capabilities.” Best Buy says the acquisition will augment its existing efforts in the health space and will help fuel further growth in the consumer and commercial markets. The company says it already has a growing business selling health- and wellness-related products and has invested in health-related initiatives that involve several leading healthcare providers and insurers. Great Call will maintain its headquarters and its care centers in Carlsbad, Calif., and Reno, Nev. David Inns, who has been with Great Call since it was formed in 2006, will remain CEO. “By joining forces, we can do even more for this population, combining our products, services and expertise with Best Buy's customer focus and scale to meaningfully expand our reach,” Inns said.
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