By ALEX SMITH

Cerner Corp. finalized its purchase of Siemens Health Services, a health information technology division, on Monday. With the $1.3 billion all-cash purchase, Kansas City-based Cerner increased its payroll by about a third to more than 21,000 employees.

Cerner says the deal, which was announced in August, will boost Cerner’s annual revenues to between $4.8 billion and $5 billion in 2015, up from $3 billion in 2013, the last year for which figures are available.

It also will double the number of countries where the company operates. The acquisition does not reflect a shift in Cerner’s approach to business, according to a company representative.

“Cerner’s strategy around growth hasn’t actually changed,” said Julie Wilson, Cerner executive vice president and chief people officer.

“We will continue to grow organically. We will continue to leverage our knowledge and depth and strength in and around health care and technology to expand our reach even further.”

The company has no plans to relocate Siemens workers to Kansas City.

 

Alex Smith is a reporter for Heartland Health Monitor, a news collaboration focusing on health issues and their impact in Missouri and Kansas.