General Healthcare Resources Inc., a Plymouth Meeting PA-based healthcare staffing firm, said it struck deals to acquire Respond Medical Staffing of Birmingham AL and Elite Medical Staffing of Orlando FL. Terms of the deals were not disclosed.

Respond provides per diem and local nurse staffing in Alabama while Elite provides per diem and local nurse travel staffing in Florida.

General Healthcare Resources, begun in 1993, provides per diem and long-term contract staffing in nursing; physical, occupational, and speech therapy; and pharmacy.

General Healthcare Resources CEO John Quirk said "these two companies really fit" because their cultures are similar to General Healthcare's. The deals are in due diligence right now and expected to close by the end of the first quarter or beginning of the second.

Quirk said General Healthcare is planning other acquisitions as well.