AMN Healthcare Services Inc., a provider of health care talent solutions and staffing services, has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Clearwater, FL-based Stratus Video for $475 million. Stratus Video is a provider of video remote language interpretation services for the health care industry, and employs a network of more than 3,000 interpreters. The acquisition is expected to be immediately accretive to AMN’s adjusted earnings per share.

“This acquisition is the result of our continued efforts to positively impact patient care through innovative total talent solutions,” said Susan R. Salka, AMN Healthcare chief executive officer. “We believe Stratus will add great value to our clients and their patients and will provide further opportunity for us to expand in the virtual workforce and patient care arena.”

The economy grew a bit faster than 2.0% in the fourth quarter of 2019, aided by a temporary decrease in imports and a resurgent housing market. Gross domestic product rose at a 2.1% pace. Analysts surveyed by MarketWatch had forecast a 1.9% rise.

GDP reached 3.1% in the first quarter of 2019, but growth waned to about 2.0% after the trade war with China intensified and business investment declined.

The view of the economy toward the end of 2019 offers a glimpse of what could be in store for 2020. Consumer spending has driven a record expansion now in its 11th year even as companies have reduced investment and production. Those trends are likely to continue.