Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Digest

Talk of the bay

By TIMES WIRES
Published December 15, 2006

ABUSINESS BONANZA SOUTH OF THE EQUATOR

Who says corporate suits can't samba? Tampa Bay area companies landed $65-million in new business on a trade mission to Brazil last month, the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce said. Fourteen companies, including some from Pinellas County, set forth for Sao Paulo and Curitiba from Nov. 5 to 11. Still no specifics on the deals, but talks touched on industries such as computers, steel, medical equipment and pharmaceuticals. Brazil is the Tampa Bay area's biggest international trade partner.

Citizens ready to spread good word

Attention Citizens Property Insurance Corp.: Prepare for another serial tongue lashing. The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation has scheduled a public hearing on property insurance rates proposed by the state's insurer of last resort. For a change, the news is halfway decent. Citizens wants to let people waive sinkhole coverage, potentially cutting premiums almost in half in Pasco and Hernando counties. Reductions would be slight in Pinellas, Hillsborough and Citrus counties. The hearing is at 5 p.m. Monday at Spartan Manor, 6121 Massachusetts Ave., New Port Richey.

UCH plans some hospital hopping

Call it musical hospital beds. Tampa's University Community Health system will be ending its six-year relationship with Sun Coast Hospital in Largo on March 1. Since 2000, UCH has handled billing, procurement, risk management and other administrative duties for the Pinellas County hospital. Sun Coast, which has 200 beds, including a new 20-bed emergency department, will be hiring as it brings that work back in-house. And it will be exploring other partnership opportunities, said Larry Archbell, Sun Coast's chief executive. Norm Stein, UCH's president, said his system wants to direct limited resources toward faster-growing areas in Pasco County, where it will be seeking state approval next year for a new hospital. After dropping Sun Coast, UCH will have about 1,000 beds in four facilities: Tampa's University Community Hospital, UCH-Fletcher, Pepin Heart Institute and Helen Ellis Memorial Hospital in Tarpon Springs.

[Last modified December 14, 2006, 22:52:24]