News in brief - July 10, 2006

LSU, VA plan mega medical complex - PatientKeeper lands venture money - MedLink, Anywhere MD strike deal

LSU, VA plan mega medical complex

Louisiana State University and the Dept. of Veterans Affairs have proposed building a nearly $1.3 billion medical complex in downtown New Orleans to replace facilities that were damaged and destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.

The proposal calls for the construction of two hospitals -- one operated by LSU, the other by the VA -- connected by a linking corridor that would contain services for both. The VA said potential shared services would include an energy plant, dietary and housekeeping services and possibly medical services involving radiology, rehabilitation or a laboratory.

LSU said its medical center, a 350-bed teaching facility and Level 1 trauma hospital, would cost about $630 million. In a report, the VA expected to spend about $636 million on a 199-bed hospital. Plans for the facility were still being developed. The partnership is expected to save the organizations $400 million in operating costs over the next 30 years, they said.

PatientKeeper lands venture money

PatientKeeper Inc. announced June 14 that it obtained $8 million of venture capital, which it will use to expand operations and new product development. The Newton, Mass.-based company sells software applications that enable physicians to access clinical and administrative information via mobile computing devices, including personal digital assistants.

MedLink, Anywhere MD strike deal

MedLink International Inc. announced June 13 that it signed a letter of intent to acquire a controlling stake in Anywhere MD Inc., an Atascadero, Calif., company that sells clinical documentation software for mobile computing devices. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Islandia, N.Y.-based MedLink sells software that enables doctors to securely communicate with other doctors and remotely access patient information.