Medtronic Forms Hospital Solutions Business to Manage Catheterization Labs in Europe

September 2, 2013—Medtronic, Inc. (Minneapolis, MN) announced the formation of Medtronic Hospital Solutions, which will focus on developing partnerships with hospitals to provide services directly related to hospital operational efficiency. Initially, the business will offer services in Europe to manage and modernize cardiac catheterization lab (CCL) facilities, with the intention of bringing sustainable efficiencies and programs.

The company also announced that Medtronic Hospital Solutions was awarded its first tenders for CCL management with two leading hospitals in Europe: the University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Trust and the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust in London. Medtronic stated that it will manage these hospitals' CCLs to high standards, providing the latest medical technology and infrastructure, optimizing operational efficiency, running daily operations, and developing local cardiac services markets, including the care pathway for patients who need access to cardiac care. Medtronic will administer four University Hospital of South Manchester CCLs at Wythenshawe Hospital and five Imperial College Healthcare CCLs based at Hammersmith Hospital.

Medtronic also announced that in support of these efforts, it recently entered into a strategic collaboration with NGC Medical SpA (Novedrate, Italy). NGC has expertise and an established track record managing outsourced CCLs in Italy. Medtronic has purchased a 30% equity stake in NGC, with an agreement to expand NGC's business beyond Italy. 

The company noted that in a pilot program conducted last year at Maastricht University Medical Center, the hospital estimated that Medtronic's efficiency solutions saved an estimated US$6 million in 1 year. During this time, Medtronic provided on-site program management to help with hospital staff training, embedding a performance improvement culture, and driving improvements in efficiency, quality, clinical outcomes, and patient experience.