The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) in the US has announced that it is partnering with Ireland’s Beacon Medical Group (BMG) to operate the independent Beacon Hospital in Dublin. This is UPMC’s first contract to run an Irish hospital.
UPMC’s international portfolio includes a transplant centre in Palermo, Italy; two cancer centres in Ireland, including one at the Beacon Hospital; and a partnership to achieve world-class emergency care in Qatar.
“Our agreement with BMG is just the latest sign of UPMC’s commitment to international growth and diversification to improve healthcare worldwide while supporting our core mission at home,” said UPMC Executive Vice President Charles Bogosta.
Under the new management agreement, the 183-bed hospital will be operated by UPMC under the medical directorship of Mark Redmond, MD, BMG’s co-founder and medical director.
BMG retains ownership of the hospital, which opened in January 2007 and offers services in cardiology, dermatology, neurology, orthopaedics and oncology. Previously, the facility was operated by Triad Hospitals Inc, which was acquired last year by Community Health Systems Inc.
“We are pleased that BMG is partnering with UPMC for this critical role in providing the highest-quality health care in Dublin. As we’ve demonstrated with our successful Beacon Hospital Cancer Centre and the Whitfield Cancer Centre in Waterford, UPMC is committed to providing cutting-edge technologies, treatment and health care management in Ireland,” said Michael Costelloe, managing director of UPMC Ireland and the new CEO of Beacon Hospital.
As part of the agreement, UPMC will pay €15 million, or about $22 million, for a 25% equity interest in the hospital operating company that will lease the facility from BMG. In addition, UPMC is participating with BMG in negotiations to operate three more independent hospitals to be built by BMG on the grounds of public hospitals in Beaumont, Cork and Limerick. BMG recently won approval for these “co-located” hospitals from the Irish government and is finalising those agreements.
