Durrant Pate/Contributor

A consortium led by First Rock Real Estate Investments Limited has been formed to acquire the 63-year-Medical Associates Hospital.

Medical Associates is a 50-bed private hospital strategically located in the heart of the Corporate Area, at 18 Tangerine Place in Kingston 5.

Included in the consortium is NovaMed Inc., which has acquired the popular Knutsford Court Hotel, which is in close proximity to Medical Associates.

The acquisition of the hotel from business leader Kevin Hendrickson was made through a specially created vehicle, Novamed Properties. Through this consortium, Novamed has secured Medical Associates shares to complement its purchase of the Knutsford Court Hotel.

Novamed Properties was specially created to acquire or operate real estate properties in the healthcare, lifestyle and commercial spaces. Plans are already in progress to transform the hotel into a model business and lifestyle village that will build healthy living, productivity and environmental sustainability into its operations.

Details of the planned acquisition

The consortium intends to acquire both the property on which the hospital is located and the operating entity. Sources tell Our Today that First Rock will hold the real estate while the consortium will focus on the day-to-day operations of the health facility.

When contacted First Rock Group chairman Ryan Reid confirmed that First Rock Real Estate investments is part of a consortium seeking to acquire Medical Associates. He declined to go into details about the planned purchase, citing confidentiality.

However, Reid a co-founder of First Rock disclosed that recently his business partner, Dr Michael Banbury, who is the other co-founder of First Rock recently resigned as CEO of Medical Associates Hospital in clear anticipation of this impending deal.

Medical Associates was established in 1959 by Dr JT Burrowes, whose vision was to create the finest private healthcare facility in Jamaica. 

Throughout the years Medical Associates Hospital has gained a reputation for excellent nursing care, experienced and highly-trained consultants, physicians and surgeons, and forging new pathways in medicine.

The hospital is a first-class healthcare facility that is proud to have forged long-standing relationships and alliances with over 60 companies and corporations in Jamaica, including embassies and consulates, international shipping lines, security companies, manufacturing plants, and telecommunications companies.

The facility is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.