Hartford Business Journal

www.HartfordBusiness.com August 28, 2017 • Hartford Business Journal 5 REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK Middlesex Hospital on track for fall shoreline expansion Middletown's Middlesex Hospital has expanded the footprint of a $28 million facil- ity it built several years ago in Westbrook. Come mid-fall, the hospital's Shore- line Medical Center will provide radiation therapy to cancer patients, using a newly installed $2.6 million linear accelerator. It's housed in a 4,000 - squa re -foot addition that cost another $1.2 mil - lion to build. CEO Vincent Capece Jr. said he expects the invest- ment to positively impact Middlesex's relatively strong bottom line, but that isn't the main focus. "The focus of this is not financial, it's about bringing services closer to patients and improving service," Capece said. The state approval process, which wrapped up last year, was contentious, with Yale New Haven Health challenging the need for another linear accelerator in the region. Middlesex Hospital ultimately prevailed. Cancer care has become an increasingly competitive service line for Connecticut hospitals in recent years. Middlesex, Hartford HealthCare, St. Fran- cis Hospital and Medical Center, St. Vincent's and Bristol Hospital have all affiliated their cancer programs with larger academic hospitals, which they say brings the latest innovations as well as a marketing boost. "I think everyone sees it as an important service line," Capece said. "It cuts across a lot of things we do. When someone is diag- nosed with cancer, there is a whole host of services they require and need." Middlesex's $3.8 million shoreline expan- sion is a small piece of its annual $30 mil- lion capital budget. The independent hospital has posted positive operating income since at least 2008. In 2016, it post- ed record operating revenue of $418 mil- lion, which Capece credited in part to higher patient vol- ume driven by the Shoreline facility, which opened in 2014. Capece said Middlesex understands that being part of a larger system would have benefits, and the hospital has evaluated some opportunities. But it's staying inde- pendent, at least for now, he said. Middlesex is, however, part of the Value Care Alliance, which includes various inde- pendent hospitals that contract for popu- lation health data management software, medical equipment management and supply purchasing. Capece said the total shared savings for member hospitals are at least several million so far, though he did not have an exact figure. – Matt Pilon InsurTech Hackathon aims to breed new startup Aspiring entre- preneurs with technology ideas that could help the insurance industry are invited to vie for a $5,000 first prize next month during a hackathon weekend at Upward Hartford, featuring top regional devel- opers, designers, coaches, entrepreneurs, mentors and judges from Boston, New York City and Silicon Valley. InsurTech Hackathon Weekend will span 48 hours Sept. 8-10 at Upward Hartford, the new coworking, networking and incubator space spanning two floors of the Stilts Build- ing downtown. Even those without technol- ogy ideas, who may have other talents, con- nections or knowledge that could advance an idea for the sector, can participate. The hackathon's goal is to start with an idea on Friday night and leave Sunday with a solid startup company and numer- ous network contacts, according to an announcement from Upward Hartford and InsurTech Hartford. The latter is a new orga- nization seeking to grow the startup com- munity around insurance technology using technology to improve or change how the insurance industry operates or to cre- ate new products. "We are encour- aging entrepreneur- minded people to grab this opportunity and use this event as a platform to pres- ent and develop their i nsu ra nce -related business ideas and build the best next big thing with the help of the top qualified mentors in the industry," said Sta- cey Brown, InsurTech Hartford founder and IT veteran in Hartford's insurance industry. The Travelers Cos. is sponsoring the $5,000 prize for the winning team, which can present its idea to insurance companies and investors during Connecticut Innova- tion Week in October. XL Catlin is offering a $3,000 prize for second place. Other Hackathon supporters include the state Department of Economic and Commu- nity Development, Connecticut Innovations, UConn School of Business, University of Hart- ford, Trinity College and the Hilton Hartford. Hackathon admission is $100 per per- son, $50 for students, which includes six meals. For information, call 860-785-2716 or visit https://www.hartfordhack.com. – John Stearns PDS has been meeting the needs of the construction industry since 1965. Our dedicated team of design and construction professionals welcomes the challenge of serving its past and future customers on their most demanding projects. Colonial Point Church | South Windsor, CT PDS Engineering & Construction served as Design- Builder for this 8,500 SF worship facility on Chapel Road. The church is used by members of the Colonial Point Church and the general community. Project Features: • Sanctuary • Lighted tower • Classrooms • Recreational spaces • Meeting spaces Total Project Cost: $1.6 Million 107 Old Windsor Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002 (860) 242-8586 | Fax (860) 242-8587 www.pdsec.com DESIGN BUILDERS • GENERAL CONTRACTORS • CONSTRUCTION MANAGERS SPOTLIGHT ON: RELIGIOUS PDS ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION, INC. THINK • PLAN • BUILD InsurTech Hartford founder Stacey Brown says Hartford is an ideal place to grow insurance tech startups. Middlesex Hospital recently paid $3.8 million for this Elekta Infinity linear accelerator. P H O T O | C O N T R I B U T E D P H O T O | H B J F I L E

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