Business
LSU, VA plan mega medical complex
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted July 10, 2006
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.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2006/07/10/bibf0710.htm.
