January 1, 2012 - COLLEGE STATION, TX - St. Joseph Regional Health Center of Bryan, Texas chose MEMdata’s Performer Elite Program to help reduce its capital equipment expenses. Performer Elite provides a full range of services designed to help hospitals manage the capital equipment procurement process.

Through its proprietary eRFP auction process, MEMdata ensures that hospitals always achieve “Best-in-Class” pricing when purchasing capital equipment. Using eRFP, all capital equipment purchases are competitively bid and the results are reported to the hospital through a secure, on-line platform.

“We started using MEMdata on a contingency basis and immediately saw the value it added to our existing procurement process,” said St. Joseph VP of Support Services, Steve Chricton. “After a few months, it became clear that the Performer Elite Program was the best choice for our system.”

In addition to the eRFP service, Performer Elite clients also have access to MEMdata’s PriceGuard benchmarking tool, BudgetMatch software, Fair Market Valuator, Total Cost of Ownership calculator, an expanded depreciation database and real-time information on FDA safety alerts and device recalls.

“St. Joseph Regional Health Center has been the leading hospital in our community for seventy five years,” said MEMdata CEO Bob Yancy. “We’re honored to be associated with such a highly respected institution, and very proud of the way we earned their business.”

About St. Joseph – Founded in 1936, St. Joseph Health System is an integrated local healthcare system, with facilities in the seven county primary service area of the Brazos Valley. The flagship facility, St. Joseph Regional Health Center in Bryan, Texas provides inpatient and outpatient care and major clinical specialties such as oncology, cardiovascular, and neurosciences for comprehensive inpatient and outpatient specialized care to cancer, heart, neurosurgery and neurology patients. St. Joseph Regional Health Center is the only Joint Commission certified Primary Stroke Center and the first accredited Chest Pain Center in the Brazos Valley.

November 17, 2011 - COLLEGE STATION, TX - When Golden Plains Community Hospital (GPCH) was ready to build a brand new 70,000 sq/ft replacement hospital, they turned to MEMdata for all their equipment planning and procurement needs. The new hospital opened in October 2011, and features twenty-five inpatient beds, state of the art surgery suites, a diagnostic imaging center, emergency room, women’s center, ICU and a rehabilitation center. Using MEMdata’s free market competitive bidding services, GPCH came in $500,000 under budget on equipment costs.

“There are so many things to consider when you’re building a new hospital,” said Golden Plains’ CEO Dennis Jack. “We counted on MEMdata to give us one less thing to worry about.” GPCH is a designated as a Critical Access Hospital and is located in Borger, Texas approximately fifty-five miles northeast of Amarillo.

“The money we saved went to good use,” added Jack. “First, we were able to purchase a more sophisticated CT scanner. That made our physicians happy because they can make better diagnoses with the newer technology. But just as important was the fact that we had to borrow less money to build the hospital than we originally estimated. The interest we’ll save over the next twenty years makes MEMdata’s contribution even more impactful.”

“Helping Critical Access hospitals get the most for their money is our business,” said MEMdata CEO, Bob Yancy. “And knowing the money we’re saving hospitals is going towards improving their ability to deliver quality care is very rewarding.”

MEMdata’s EPPS Program covers all aspects of new hospital construction, as well as the renovation of existing facilities, including inventory, budgeting, equipment specifications and placement, capital procurement and installation scheduling. MEMdata’s expertise extends well beyond medical equipment to include physical plant, IT, dietary, housekeeping and any other equipment a hospital defines as capital.

About MEMdata – Founded in 2000, College Station, Texas based MEMdata processes capital equipment purchases for hundreds of medical facilities through its proprietary eRFP database. In addition to securing the lowest prices on equipment purchases, MEMdata provides equipment planning services for construction and renovation projects, life-cycle analysis of capital equipment investments, price benchmarking, and a full range of web-based tools, giving clients access to the most complete database in the industry. For more info, visit: http://www.memdata.com.

About GPCH – Since 1927, Golden Plains Community Hospital has been providing the residents of Hutchinson County, Texas with local access to a wide variety of high quality healthcare services. over 200 employees work at GPCH, offering critical services to the area including Diagnostic Imaging, Emergency Services, Dietary Services, Home Health Care, Laboratory Services, Surgery Services, Obstetrics, Rehabilitation Services, Respiratory Care, Social Services and more. For more info visit: http://www.goldenplains.org

November 10, 2011 - COLLEGE STATION, TX - Washington Regional Medical Center has signed a Performer agreement with MEMdata to bring down their capital equipment costs at a pay for performance fee. This facility is a 366-bed, acute care medical center that has recently completed a $64 million expansion that includes a new fifth floor with a chapel, expanded Emergency Department, Pat Walker Center for Seniors, Center for Support Services and expanded kitchen and pharmacy.

Washington Regional Medical Center is located in Fayetteville, Arkansas and serves the people in Washington, Benton, Madison, and Carroll counties. By choosing MEMdata, Washington Regional will be able to use the resources of MEMdata to make certain that they are receiving the most competitive pricing on their capital equipment purchases.

November 7, 2011 - COLLEGE STATION, TX - Yoakum County Hospital has signed a Performer agreement with MEMdata. The facility has 24 beds and employees over 170 employees. Yoakum County Hospital cares firstly about the patient and makes it their mission “to provide outstanding and innovative care…with concern and compassion for their total being in all aspects of a healthy lifestyle.” They provide a Level IV Trauma Center, Cardiology, Dermatology, Urology, and Podiatry Services, as well as a Fitness Center and Dialysis Services.

Yoakum County Hospital is located in Denver City, Texas and serves the areas of West Texas and Eastern New Mexico. Yoakum County Hospital and MEMdata will work together to reduce the facilities capital equipment costs as they continue to provide a facility that meets the needs of its community.

November 7, 2011 - COLLEGE STATION, TX - Rangley District Hospital has signed a Performer Elite agreement with MEMdata to lower their capital equipment costs at a fixed fee. This facility’s major goal is the comfort and care of their patients. They provide many services including Assisted Living, Cardiopulmonary, Dental, Dietary, Family Medicine, Home Health, Nursing, Physical Therapy, and Radiology. They have also made available to their patients an Emergency Room and Laboratory. This facility plans to be open by the end of 2012.

Rangely District Hospital is located in Rangely, Colorado. By choosing to work with MEMdata, Rangely will now have a beneficial resource in achieving the most competitive pricing on their equipment purchases.

October 1, 2011 - COLLEGE STATION, TX - MEMdata was recently recognized by St. Joseph Regional Medical Center of Paterson, New Jersey for its role in the construction of their new state-of-the-art 183,000 square foot Critical Care Building. Using free market competitive bidding services from MEMdata, St. Joseph came in over three million dollars under budget on equipment costs for the new facility.

Already participating in MEMdata’s Performer Elite program which had resulted in over four million in capital equipment savings, St. Joseph’s leadership turned to MEMdata for help in equipment planning services for their expansion project in 2010.

“We were in danger of falling behind schedule and going over budget when we brought in MEMdata to assist with equipment planning,” said St. Joseph’s CFO Jack Robinson. “Bob Yancy and his team went to work immediately and helped us turn things around. We had our grand opening on time, thanks in large part to MEMdata working in tandem with our internal team, SBL Architects and our general contractor Torcon, Inc.”

The new state-of-the-art addition to St. Joseph’s Paterson campus features separate Pediatric and Adult Emergency Departments, 12 OR theaters including 3 cardiovascular surgery suites, four dedicated critical care units and a rooftop helipad capable of landing the largest medical transport helicopters.

“We used the savings generated by MEMdata to buy a new Robotic Surgical System, a new CT for the ER, and new patient monitoring equipment for our entire campus,” added Robinson. “Even though the construction project is finished, we’ll continue to use MEMdata’s procurement services every time we make a capital purchase. The power and cost efficiency of their free market process has proven itself again and again at this health system.”

MEMdata’s EPPS Program covers all aspects of new hospital construction, as well as the renovation of existing facilities, including inventory, budgeting, equipment specifications and placement, capital procurement and installation scheduling. MEMdata’s expertise extends well beyond medical equipment to include physical plant, IT, dietary, housekeeping and all equipment a hospital defines as capital.

“Our goal is to make sure that every piece of equipment is on site, on time and ready for installation at the very best price,” said MEMdata’s CEO Bob Yancy. “It’s a pleasure working with organizations that appreciate the benefits of full and open competition, and we greatly value our relationship with a market leader like St. Joseph’s.”

About MEMdata – Founded in 2000, College Station, Texas based MEMdata processes capital equipment purchases for hundreds of medical facilities through its proprietary eRFP database. In addition to securing the lowest prices on equipment purchases, MEMdata provides equipment planning services for construction and renovation projects, life-cycle analysis of capital equipment investments, price benchmarking, and a full range of web-based tools, giving clients access to the most complete database in the industry. For more info, visit: www.memdata.com.

About St. Joseph’s – Founded by the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth in 1867, St. Joseph’s Hospital has grown to encompass St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center, an academic tertiary medical center; St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital, a state-designated children’s hospital in Paterson, NJ; St. Joseph’s Wayne Hospital; an acute care community hospital; and St. Vincent’s Nursing Home, a long-term skilled nursing home in Cedar Grove, NJ. For more info, visit www.stjosephshealth.org.

September 19, 2011 - COLLEGE STATION, TX - Greenville Regional Hospital has renewed to an Amerinet Choice Performer agreement with MEMdata to reduce their capital equipment costs. This facility is a not-for-profit hospital that provides many services including an Emergency Department, a Family Birth Center and a Full spectrum of Imaging Services. Greenville Regional Hospital has been certified by the United States Department of Health and Human Services in the Medicare Program, the American Medical Association and the State of Illinois Department of Public Health.

Greenville Regional Hospital is located in Greenville, Illinois and is the largest employer in Bond County. The partnership that has been created between Greenville Regional Hospital and MEMdata will further the hospital’s commitment to high quality health care as MEMdata works hard to find the most competitive pricing on all of their capital equipment purchases.

September 12, 2011 - COLLEGE STATION, TX - St. Joseph Regional Health Center has signed a Performer agreement with MEMdata to reduce their capital equipment costs for a performance based fee. St. Joseph Regional Health Center is the main campus of the St. Joseph Health System which has many facilities located in the Brazos Valley. They have been ranked 1st in Texas for overall Orthopedic Services in 2011 and are the only Joint Commission certified Primary Stroke Center and the first accredited Chest Pain Center in the Brazos Valley.

St. Joseph Regional Health Center is located in Bryan, Texas. Together, St. Joseph Regional Health Center and MEMdata will work hard to find the most competitive pricing on all of their equipment purchases.

September 9, 2011 - COLLEGE STATION, TX - Poplar Bluff Medical Partners has signed a Performer Elite agreement with MEMdata to reduce their capital equipment costs for a fixed fee. This facility, in partnership with Saint Francis Healthcare System, works hard to provide quality healthcare, while keeping costs down. Compared to other facilities, Poplar Bluff Medical Partners’ imaging services can be about three times less on average and many of their other procedures can be almost six times less on average.

Poplar Bluff Medical Partners is located at the intersection of PP Highway and Highway 67 bypass in Poplar Bluff, MO. Now that Poplar Bluff Medical Partners has chosen MEMdata, we can work together to bring even more savings to the community of Poplar Bluff.

August 31, 2011 - COLLEGE STATION, TX - Saratoga Hospital has signed a Performer Elite agreement with MEMdata to reduce their capital equipment costs. Saratoga is a 243 bed hospital that is committed to bringing the latest in technology and compassionate, supportive healthcare. Saratoga recently received approval for a 24-hour center in Malta that will provide superior urgent, primary and outpatient care. This facility will open in Fall 2012.

Saratoga Hospital is located in Saratoga, New York. By choosing MEMdata, Saratoga will be able to take advantage of MEMdata’s services and ensure that they are achieving the most competitive pricing on all of their equipment purchases.

August 5, 2011 - COLLEGE STATION, TX - Grand Itasca Clinic & Hospital has signed a Performer Elite agreement with MEMdata to reduce their capital equipment costs for a fixed fee, guaranteed by savings. Under this agreement, they will have unlimited access to MEMdata's exclusive eRFP procurement auction process, price benchmarking, BudgetMatch, and a variety of other financial and operational online tools and resources.

Grand Itasca Clinic & Hospital is a 64 bed facility located in Grand Rapids, MN, and is one of rural Minnesota’s few independent, multi-specialty health care facilities. They have more than 50 physicians specializing in family medicine, internal medicine, orthopedics, pediatrics, anesthesiology, cardiology, urology, otolaryngology, pathology and obstetrics and gynecology

August 3, 2011 - COLLEGE STATION, TX - Fairchild Medical Center has signed a Performer Elite agreement with MEMdata to reduce their capital equipment cost and maximize their capital budget. Located in Yreka, California at the base of the Mount Shasta, Fairchild is accredited by the Joint Commission. FMC is a state-of-the-art healthcare facility. The facility was built in 1997 to replace the old Siskiyou General Hospital. Over 60,000 patients visited Fairchild Medical Center last year, including more than 12,000 Emergency Department patients. Fairchild Medical Center has a medical staff of more than 80 physicians with an active staff of over 28 physicians.

Using MEMdata’s eRFP services, the 25 bed facility will be able to ensure they obtain the most competitive equipment prices on the market, and ensure they explore the most technologically advanced equipment available. Through utilization of MEMdata’s Performer Elite Program, Fairchild can continue to focus on providing high-quality healthcare in all healthcare areas.

July 27, 2011 - COLLEGE STATION, TX - Lakeway Regional Medical Center has signed a Performer Elite agreement with MEMdata to reduce their capital equipment costs for a fixed fee. Lakeway Regioanl is currently under construction in Lakeway, TX, just west of Austin. Under this agreement Lakeway Regional will take advantage of MEMdata’s eRFP services and ultimately ensure they are receiving the most competitive prices for all of their equipment.

The plans for the Lakeway Regional Medical Center includes an eight-story, 230,000-square-foot acute care hospital that will open with 145 beds and is expected to eventually expand to 285 beds. It will offer cardiology/cardiothoracic, women\'s health, physical therapy/sports medicine, gastrointestinal, respiratory and speech-language pathology services. The hospital anchors a 54-acre medically-oriented development that will include a medical office building that also will open for occupancy next year.

July 4, 2011 - COLLEGE STATION, TX - Parmer Medical Center has signed a MEMdata Performer agreement to identify the most competitive capital equipment prices in the market. PMC is a 25 bed critical access hospital located in Friona, Texas. The staff is trained and certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support as well as Advanced Trauma Life Support and has a low nurse to patient ratio. Other services include inpatient, outpatient, imaging, rehabilitative therapy, swing bed program, rural health and specialty clinics of orthopedics, gynocology and gastrointestinal medicine.

PMC is in a new state-of-the-art facility that is second to none. The recently completed facility has almost doubled the facilities size at 37,000 square feet, providing room for future growth. PMC and MEMdata’s partnership will help foster the facility’s growth as they can expand their capital purchases through maximizing the facility’s budgets. PMC and MEMdata look forward to the coming months and reducing cost with the renewed partnership.

June 23, 2011 - COLLEGE STATION, TX - DECA Health has signed a Performer agreement with MEMdata to reduce their capital equipment costs. DECA Health provides billing, management and development services for single and multi-specialty groups that desire to provide ambulatory sites for interventional pain management and other clinical endeavors. They strive to be cost-competitive while focusing on customer service, safety and efficiency.

DECA Health is located in Toledo, Ohio and offers many services such as physician and management recruiting, contracts and credentials, compliance audits, and property acquisition and development. DECA Health and MEMdata will work together to obtain the most competitive pricing for their facility.

June 3, 2011 - COLLEGE STATION, TX - The Polyclinic, based in Seattle, Washington has chosen MEMdata's proven, performance-based, Performer program to reduce their capital equipment costs.

By choosing MEMdata, The Polyclinic will experience dramatic savings on all equipment. The services provided will identify the entire market for equipment, at the best-in-class pricing.

The Polyclinic is one of the largest multi-specialty clinics in the Puget Sound area, with more than 150 primary care and specialty physicians in most areas of medicine. Established in 1917, The Polyclinic's mission is to promote the health of their patients by providing high-quality, comprehensive, personalized health care.

April 21, 2011 - COLLEGE STATION, TX - Bradley County Medical Center has chosen MEMdata's Performer program to reduce their capital equipment costs for a performance based fee.

BCMC is located in Warren, Arkansas ans is part of the Greater Delta Alliance for Health. The hospital opened its doors in 1951 and is a Critical Access Hospital.

April 13, 2011 - COLLEGE STATION, TX - Solara Surgical Partners has signed a Performer Elite agreement with MEMdata to reduce their equipment costs for all of their facilities. Included in the agreement is our competitive eRFP service, price benchmarking reports, our award-winning Budgeting program, as well as a host of web-based applications.

Solara Surgical Partners develops and manages Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASC's) and other surgical facilities across the United States. Solara Surgical Partners is based in Southlake, Texas, a suburb of Dallas-Fort Worth, 15 minutes northwest of DFW Airport.

In 2008, Solara Surgical was started to meet the needs presented by surgeons wanting to create their own facilities in partnership with Solara, and benefit from the Company’s proven track record and expertise in facility management.

Solara Surgical

April 12, 2011 - COLLEGE STATION, TX - John C Fremont Healthcare District has signed a Performer agreement with MEMdata to reduce their costs for a performance-based fee.

John C Fremont Healthcare District is a critical access hospital located in Mariposa, CA. They opened their doors in the 1950's as a small hospital. They have since added a skilled nursing unit and hospice to their organization.

The District employs approximately 270 people, and contracts with well over 40 physicians.

John C Fremont is also part of the California Critical Access Hospital Network.

March 18, 2011 - COLLEGE STATION, TX - Shands at the University of Florida has signed MEMdata's Performer Elite program. The Performer Elite service provides capital equipment cost reduction services for a fixed annual fee. It also includes our BudgetMatch program, PriceGuard price benchmarking Reports, as well as a variety of web-based applications & financial calculators.

The Shands system is comprised of two teaching hospitals, which encompass a children’s hospital and cancer hospital; two specialty hospitals; two homecare agencies; and outpatient services including several rehab centers in Gainesville. Shands is also affiliated with more than 80 University of Florida physician outpatient practices located throughout north central and northeast Florida.

The approximately 1,500 UF faculty and community physicians on the medical staff provide care in more than 100 specialty and subspecialty medical areas, from primary care to highly complex care, including cancer, cardiovascular, neurology, neurosurgery, pediatrics and transplantation services. Patients go to Shands from all 67 Florida counties, throughout the nation and more than a dozen countries each year.

Shands at the University of Florida has earned top-50 rankings in 8 specialties in the 2010 edition of America’s Best Hospitals, published by U.S.News & World Report.

February 1, 2011 - COLLEGE STATION, TX - Brooks Health System located in Jacksonville, FL has signed a Performer Elite Agreement with MEMdata. Brooks originally signed under the Performer program in October 2010, but after realizing huge savings opportunities on just the first couple of projects, they decided to convert their program from the performance-based method to the fixed-fee service to maximize their return on investment.

Brooks has a long-standing tradition of providing quality inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation care to Florida and Southeast Georgia. The 157-bed acute physical rehab hospital is unique in the region with a highly trained staff and an unmatched range of services. Brooks has an extensive network of 25 outpatient centers and an established home health services division, Brooks Home Care Advantage. Brooks also has a cutting-edge research facility offering over 20 clinical trials. The Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital, along with our Spinal Cord Injury, Pain, Stroke and Brain Injury programs, is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). Brooks is also accredited by the Joint Commission and listed as a state designated facility by the Florida Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Program (BSCIP).

January 12, 2011 - COLLEGE STATION, TX - Central Peninsula Hospital, Soldotna, Alaska has renewed and upgraded their agreement with MEMdata to the Performer Elite program. Performer Elite provides capital equipment cost reduction services for a fixed annual fee. It also provides our BudgetMatch software, PriceGuard Reports, as well as a variety of web-based applications & financial calculators.

Central Peninsula Hospital is a 50 bed, acute care hospital serving the Central Peninsula area. CPH is a Planetree affiliated hospital with an approach to wellness that includes all aspects of healing - mental, emotional, spiritual, social and physical.

An 85,000 sq. ft., state-of-the-art expansion and renovation project has added and improved facilities for private patient rooms, surgery, labor and delivery, emergency care, outpatient services, imaging, laboratory, and physical therapy. Their active medical staff has more than 85 physicians and 28 allied health providers with specialties including Anesthesia, Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, ENT, General Surgery, Internal Medicine, Neurology, OB/GYN, Ophthalmology, Orthopedics, Pathology, Pediatrics, Podiatry, Psychiatry and Radiology.

January 10, 2011 - COLLEGE STATION, TX - Wray Community District Hospital has signed a Performer agreement with MEMdata to reduce their capital equipment costs for a contingency-based fee.

Wray is a member of the Western Healthcare Alliance and is also a Banner Health facility. Wray Community District Hospital is a 15 bed Critical Access Hospital that was constructed in 1995, and newly renovated in 2009. The facility is owned and operated by the Wray Community Hospital District.

December 28, 2010 - COLLEGE STATION, TX - Lake View Hospital is licensed by the Minnesota Department of Health as a Critical Access Hospital. They are an affiliate in partnership with St. Luke’s Hospital, Duluth, MN.

Lake View’s wide range of services include acute hospital care, outpatient and emergency services, outpatient specialty clinic and assisted living services. They operate a 25-bed hospital and 10-bed assisted living residence, Lake View Cottages.

The construction of Lake View Hospital (LVH) began in 1956 with funds supplied through donations and government assistance through the Hill-Burton Fund. The Hospital first opened its doors for patient care in July of 1957. Over the years, as the Two Harbors population and the need for additional beds has grown, the hospital, which is licensed by the Minnesota Department of Health, has expanded to meet that need.

In 1993 and 1994 Lake View built and opened two Adult Foster Care homes. The Lake View Cottages are located off campus in a residential setting near Odegard Park. The Cottages were both ten-bed homes, providing services and personalized care for people with memory loss impairments and the frail elderly. Lake View Hospital continues to operate one of the homes. The other is leased to an organization providing care to individuals with traumatic brain injuries.
In July 2008, the Lake View Hospital acquired Superior Health Clinic, re-opening it as Lake View Clinic, offering preventive and family care.

Today, Lake View is a diverse organization that includes inpatient and outpatient care, acute hospital services, an outpatient specialty clinic and assisted living services. They employ approximately 140 people and have one of the largest payrolls in the community.

December 6, 2010 - COLLEGE STATION, TX - Article reprint from "The Uvalde Leader-News"

Cardiologist, orthopedic surgeon and pediatrician to join hospital staff
by Carol Kothmann
Managing editor

Another step in the process of bringing radiation oncology services to Southwest Texas was taken Tuesday morning when ground was officially broken for the Kate Marmion Regional Cancer Medical Center. "This is a hallelujah day, a celebration," said Dr. John Shudde, co-chairman of the Saving Lives Close to Home Capital Campaign Committee that exceeded the fundraising goal for the center that will be located adjacent to Uvalde Memorial Hospital. "This committee raised $5.2 million. This surpassed the $5 million goal," said master of ceremonies Bill Kessler, Uvalde Hospital Authority board president.

Shudde characterized the project as a love story. He said it is not a Hollywood love story, but a story of the love that caring area residents have for people in need. "The benefactor gets blessed as well as the giver. And it feels good." He praised the generosity of lead project donors and capital campaign honorary chairmen former Texas Gov. Dolph Briscoe and his daughter, Janey Marmion. The center is named for Briscoe's granddaughter, Janey and Jim Marmion's daughter. "You'd never know and see this happen if it hadn't been for the blessing of Gov. Briscoe," said Shudde.

He also praised Uvalde Memorial Hospital Development Coordinator Sheri Rutledge for her work on the project. "This is the ramrod of this outfit." Kessler credited Uvalde businessman Roger Berry for originating the effort to build the center and ease the travel burden on area cancer sufferers, who currently have to travel to San Antonio for radiation oncology services.

Berry began work on the project after family members required treatment and had to go to San Antonio to get it. Uvalde Memorial Hospital Administrator Jim Buckner said he also wanted to personally thank Berry for his work and persistence in making the project a reality. "I'm just glad his boot wasn't any sharper," he laughed. Buckner said with Berry, Shudde was also instrumental in the effort to raise funds for the project. "I just don't think it would have happened without these two fine gentlemen."

Buckner recognized Uvalde Memorial Hospital employees and UMH Auxiliary members present for the ceremony nothing that both groups supported the project. He also recognized capital campaign committee members, the firm of O'Connell Robertson Associates and architects Rick Burnight and Jason Puchot, and contractor D. Wilson construction Co. President Bill Wilson. Buckner explained that cancer treatment other than radiation therapy has been available in Uvalde for almost 20 years, thanks to Cancer Care Centers of South Texas and doctors including Dr. Manuel Santiago and Dr. Sridham Beeram. Those services will be incorporated into the new facility and will increase, going from six to 10 patient stations.

Kessler introduced Dr. David Jones, whose Southwest Oncology Development Associates group will staff the radiation oncology office in the center. "He has vast experience and resources," he said of Jones and the group, which has offices in Kerrville, San Marcos, Marble Falls, Bastrop and New Braunfels. Jones said sometimes it is hard to explain the importance of providing cancer treatment locally. "It matters. Sometimes it's hard to explain how much it matters," Jones said. He shared the story of his mother's radiation treatment when she battled breast cancer. She and Jones' father stayed with Jones and his wife in Kerrville, and Jones told the assembled group how important it was that she could be minutes away from the treatment she needed.

The new center will provide area residents the same treatment advantage, he said. "We're going to do something special here," Jones said. "The people that are in the least position ... won't have to leave family and friends and church and work. They're going to be able to do it right here close to home."

Recognizing his associates Alex Strenge, Stephen Scott, Brent Bates and Lance Dobbins, Jones said, "We're going to make a center that you guys can be proud of." Jones said the fundraising in excess of what was needed is seen as a significant achievement by the state's medical community. "Be proud of yourselves. What you've accomplished has raised eyebrows," Jones said.

Buckner also announced new doctors will be coming to the hospital thanks to the project. "This is a two-part project in some respects," he said, referring to the fact that a medical office building is included in the project. "We're standing at almost 80 percent occupied before it goes into place," Buckner said. He announced the addition to the hospital staff of orthopedic surgeon Dr. Jack Connely, cardiologist Dr. Khawaja Anwar and pediatrician Dr. Roy Guerrero.

(Carol Kothmann. ckothmann@uvaldeleadernews.com)

October 25, 2010 - COLLEGE STATION, TX - Northern Hospital of Surry County, Mount Airy, North Carolina, has signed a Performer agreement ro reduce their capital equipment costs for a performance based fee. The April 2010 edition of Business North Carolina magazine, lists Northern Hospital of Surry County as one of North Carolina’s Best Hospitals in Critical Care and in Pulmonary Care. It also notes that Northern Hospital is ranked among the nation’s top 10%, as well, in each of these categories.

October 22, 2010 - COLLEGE STATION, TX - Chicot Memorial Medical Center, Lake Village, AR, has signed an agreement with MEMdata to reduce their capital equipment costs on for a performance-based fee. Chicot Memorial Medical Center is a critical access facility and incorporates state-of-the-art procedures and equipment to care for patients.

October 13, 2010 - COLLEGE STATION, TX - KershawHealth, Camden, SC, has signed a performer agreement with MEMdata to reduce its costs for a performance based fee. KershawHealth provides a broad range of medical as well as health and wellness services at locations all across the Kershaw County area. KershawHealth's Medical Center in Camden is a comprehensive acute care facility encompassing 121 acute care beds.

October 13, 2010 - COLLEGE STATION, TX - Union General Hospital, Farmerville, Louisiana has signed an agreement with MEMdata to reduce capital equipment costs for a performance based fee. The hospital serves Union Parish and the surrounding area. It is a critical access facility of 25 beds in the northern part of the state.

October 12, 2010 - COLLEGE STATION, TX - St. Barnabas Hospital, Bronx, NY, has signed an agreement with MEMdata to reduce its costs for a fixed annual fee. St. Barnabas Hospital is a 461-bed, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, acute care community hospital and Level I Trauma Center authorized to treat the most critically ill and severely injured patients. As a State-designated Stroke Center and State-designated AIDS Center, they provide access to much-needed services in their community. U.S. News & World Report has ranked this hospital among the top fifty in the country in the treatment of diabetes and endocrine disorders. They also provide Ambulatory care, mental health care, rehabilitation and continuing care all while supporting a graduate medical education program in affiliation with New York College for Osteopathic Medicine and Albert Einstein School of Medicine.

October 12, 2010 - COLLEGE STATION, TX - Brooks Health System, Jacksonville, FL, has signed an agreement with MEMdata to reduce capital equipment costs for a performance based fee. Brooks has a long-standing tradition of providing quality inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation care to Florida and Southeast Georgia. The 157-bed acute physical rehab hospital is unique in the region with a highly trained staff and an unmatched range of services. Brooks has an extensive network of 25 outpatient centers and an established home health services division, Brooks Home Care Advantage. Brooks also has a cutting-edge research facility offering over 20 clinical trials. The Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital, along with our Spinal Cord Injury, Pain, Stroke and Brain Injury programs, is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). Brooks is also accredited by the Joint Commission and listed as a state designated facility by the Florida Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Program (BSCIP).
October 12, 2010

October 8, 2010 - COLLEGE STATION, TX - Southern Atlantic Healthcare Alliance in Cary, North Carolina, has partnered with MEMdata to provide a cost reduction initiative guaranteed to reduce the cost of new capital equipment purchases for their members. The Alliance has 15 members in its organization and the medical facilities range in size from 101 beds to 955 beds. The members will have the ability to chose which performance based agreemenr they would like to enter into. Southern Atlantic Healthcare Alliance exists to build collaborative relationships between hospitals in the region with the purpose of improving the quality and delivery of healthcare for the patients they serve.

October 5, 2010 - COLLEGE STATION, TX - Rolling Plains Memorial Hospital, Sweetwater, TX, has converted from Performer to Performer Elite to help reduce their costs for a fixed annual fee. Rolling Plains Memorial Hospital had previously signed with MEMdata in 2003. They provide comprehensive rehabilitation services to those whose ability to function in limited due to neurological, musculoskeletal, integumentary, or other potentially debilitating conditions. Rolling Plains service combines the latest in evaluate and treatment techniques with education and instruction to achieve a lasting improvement for both our patients and their families. They are located in Sweetwater, Texas, serving Nolan County and the surrounding area.

September 17, 2010 - COLLEGE STATION, TX - Healthcare Procurement Solutions, LLC ("HPS") was created specifically to serve physicians, their private medical practices, and related businesses - including surgery centers, endoscopy centers, and imaging centers. Developed by seasoned healthcare consultants and purchasing professionals, HPS helps its members reduce costs by leveraging the combined purchasing power of thousands of member physicians.

Averaging more than 20 years of experience in our respective fields, HPS understands the issues involved in running a medical practice and what it takes to minimize your overhead costs. HPS contracted with MEMdata to add them to their list of resources offered to the members.

September 14, 2010 - COLLEGE STATION, TX - Madison Parish Hospital, Tallulah, LA, has signed an agreement with MEMdata to reduce capital equipment costs for a performance based fee. Madison Parish Hospital is a Critical Access Hospital located in Northeast Louisiana and serves its community of over 12,000 residents.

September 10, 2010 - COLLEGE STATION, TX - Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI, has signed an agreement with MEMdata to reduce capital equipment costs for a performance based fee. Based in midtown Detroit, Karmanos is one of 40 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the United States. Caring for more than 6,000 new patients annually on a budget of $216 million, conducting more than 700 cancer-specific scientific investigation programs and clinical trials, the Karmanos Cancer Center is among the nation’s best cancer centers. Through the commitment of 1,000 staff, including nearly 300 faculty members, and supported by thousands of volunteer and financial donors, Karmanos strives to prevent, detect and eradicate cancer.

Karmanos is designated by the National Cancer Institute as among the very best cancer centers in the United States. It is the preferred hospital for cancer care in southeast Michigan according to the 2007, 2008 and 2009 Cancer Treatment Preference Profile Surveys, conducted by the National Research Corporation.

August 2, 2010 - COLLEGE STATION, TX - A first ever empirical study of actual hospital transactions has proven MEMdata’s method of equipment purchasing achieves the best prices for hospitals. The study was conducted by Dr. Robert Litan, who holds a PhD in Economics from Yale and is a Senior Fellow for Economic Studies at The Brookings Institution, and by Dr. Hal Singer who holds an M.A. and PhD in Economics from Johns Hopkins University. The study observed several thousand actual purchase transactions over a ten year period using MEMdata’s procurement auction technique, and objectively proves hospitals that used MEMdata for capital equipment purchases in 2010 experienced eighteen percent (18%) savings.

June 30, 2010 - COLLEGE STATION, TX - MEMdata is proud to announce a new equipment planning and design client, St. Joseph’s Healthcare System, consisting of a 600 bed teaching system located in Paterson and Wayne, New Jersey. MEMdata will provide equipment planning and design services for a new 155,000 square foot Critical Care Building with Emergency and Surgery departments, an Intensive Care and Acute Nursing Unit, Expanded Outpatient Radiology, Ambulatory Care, Nursing units, and a Women’s and Children’s hospital. MEMdata will also design equipment placement for Physical Medicine, the eye center, the medical library and Veterans clinic. A 1,500 car parking garage, a 300 room hotel and conference center are also part of this campus wide expansion and renovation project. St. Joseph's Health System is a Level I Regional Trauma Center, receiving over 100,000 visits annually, and has utilized MEMdata's capital procurement services since 2004.