Diversified Specialty Institute Holdings, Inc.
| Private | |
| Industry | Health care |
| Founded | 2003 |
| Headquarters | Nashville, Tennessee |
| Products | Kidney dialysis |
Number of employees | 2500+ |
| Website |
Diversified Specialty Institute is a healthcare group created in 2003 whose purpose is to build and operate hospitals across the nation. While the group’s primary task is the operation of over a hundred dialysis clinics around the nation, DSI is on the forefront of hospital construction technology with operations including the state-of-the-art breast cancer treatment facility in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
History
DSI was originally founded in Nashville during 2003. While the group found a rocky start with only five employees in the beginning, over the next few years DSI was able to create a modular design for hospital buildings, reducing the cost and time to create the building while actually improving the quality of the facility.
In April 2006, financed by Centre Partners, a leading private equity firm, DSI was able to purchase 105 dialysis clinics and four other programs from Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, inc. The purchase made DSI the third largest dialysis provider at the time.
In July of the same year, DSI set its first modular building in Bucks County. The modular units, produced in Conyers, Georgia were shipped to Bucks County and a twelve patient hospital wing was laid out in less than eight hours. This marked a milestone for both DSI and the medical community, showing that quality hospitals could be created in record time.
In April 2009, the hospital facility in Bucks County, PA filed for bankruptcy protection under Chapter 7. The bankruptcy was actually filed under "Bucks County Oncoplastic Institute."
Technology
DSI pursues and utilizes the best technology the medical industry has to offer. For instance, all files are stored electronically which has improved efficiency and confidentiality while streamlining patient records and treatment. All personnel are trained on the system and capable of easily tracking their patients’ progress and are thus able to treat them more effectively.
PEARL
DSI and its predecessor were able to create the medical software PEARL, which is used to track patients’ status, ensure that medications and operations are performed in a timely fashion, and allow a streamlined interface between doctors and their staffs. This system is used in all DSI facilities.
Modular Construction
From the beginning of DSI, modular construction for hospital facilities was envisioned. While many skeptics denied that it was possible, after a rigorous production program, DSI was able to also design their first modular clinic. The facility not only met health department standards but exceeded them in many departments. Combined with the advanced technology and DSI’s creative strive, many of the facilities can be considered the highest technology healthcare facilities in the United States.
In mid-2006, DSI laid its first modular hospital, including a twelve patient wing, in less than eight hours. Actual time to set the building is around two days. The entire construction cycle, from the time that the building is ordered until the time that the facility receives a certificate of occupancy is barely over four months, compared to the standard six months to a year that it takes to erect a facility using standard construction methods.
Current and future projects
DSI is currently working on an economical pharmaceutical service in which dialysis patients can have their prescriptions sent directly to their clinic through DSI. This means that instead of having to go to a local pharmacy to place and pick up prescription orders, DSI will ensure that all prescriptions arrive on time at the clinic and will eliminate the cost and hassle of going to the pharmacy for the patient.
Going along with DSI’s desire to be environmentally responsible, DSI set up a research study during the summer of 2008 in order to investigate how the facilities can become more energy efficient and “go green.” Currently, research into wind turbine and solar photo-voltaic technology is being conducted to improve facilities’ energy efficiency and reduce their global footprint. Likewise, water reclamation technology is being pursued.
References
- "DSI Holding Company Inc. Complets Acquisition of Over 100 Dialysis Centers from Fresenius Medical Care for Approximately $511 Million"
- "Bucks Co. Hospital Offers Patients More Ease"
- "Personal Touches Ease Pain for Breast Cancer Patients"
- "Instant Clinic for Breast Care - Prefab Hospital in Bucks County is Set to Open in October"
- "Building For a Fight With Cancer"
- "DSI Facility files for Chapter 7"