SAN FRANCISCO — W2O Group's acquisition spree continues with a deal for Discern Health, a Baltimore-based consultancy that specializes in value-based healthcare.

Discern Health works with public and private healthcare organizations on adopting business models that tie provider payments to patient outcomes, which proponents tout as an incentive to providing quality care. The consultancy helps shape clients’ performance measurements, strategic directions and policies.

The deal marks W2O’s third acquisition this year, and sixth since the firm’s expansion plan began in 2019. In April, W2O bolstered its social media analytics capabilities with the purchase of Symplur. In January, the independent agency group added an advertising agency to its portfolio with its acquisition of 21Grams.

The Discern team will operate under W2O’s single P&L, with access to W2O’s proprietary data models and tools. The Discern leadership team will remain the same.

“Value-based metrics, the continued need for real-world data integration, and the changing landscape of federal, state and international health policy in the face of the Covid-19 crisis are impacting healthcare faster than ever before,” said Rita Glaze, who leads W2O’s commercial strategy and market access practice. “Our clients need ongoing evidence-generation strategies that mirror the market dynamics they are facing, along with up-to-the-minute insights and counsel. This information is vital to guide policy positions and commercial decisions that will unlock maximum value for their products, solutions and services."

Last year, W2O purchased New Jersey-based agency Radius Digital Science, the London-based healthcare firm ISO.health, and the Philadelphia firm Arcus Medica. The acquisitions come after W2O sold a piece of the company to New York investment firm New Mountain Capital, which marked the second round of funding the company has received to further its expansion.