MOUNT PLEASANT ? A Florida IT solutions provider and its Stanwood joint venture partner are moving into the Central Michigan University SmartZone to create E-Health Technologies.

Coastal Technology of Jacksonville, FL, and Goldman & Goldman of Stanwood

Will be establishing research and development operations at the Center for Applied Research and Technology at CMU. E-Health Technologies will initially occupy an office in the research facility and gradually increase the number of staff members, which will likely include CMU students.

The company is working to develop a technology platform that will permit secure and confidential sharing of medical data between all key points in the extended health chain, including patients, providers, clinicians, employees and payers. Coastal Technologies provides hospitals and clinic networks with information technology solutions that streamline operations, while significantly reducing costs and eliminating the burden associated with managing internal information technology operations.

“CMU offers the ideal blend of high-caliber business applications development within an academic institution well known for its health care expertise,” said Mark Renfro, president and CEO for Coastal Technologies, in explaining why the two companies chose to locate their new research and development venture in the Mount Pleasant SmartZone. “We plan to take advantage of the many valuable resources available to us by locating in the Mount Pleasant SmartZone, including CMURC’s expertise in business intelligence, advanced analytical software, super-computing capabilities and broadband infrastructure.”

Joint venture partner Goldman has more than 30 years of experience with fully integrated hospital systems, HIPAA regulations and other compliant health care standards. Goldman will head the new research operation which initially includes a staff of two full-time employees and one part-time programmer. Goldman said he looks forward to working closely with the knowledgeable students and faculty involved in computer programming and health care at CMU.

“As with other high-tech companies that have been recruited to Mount Pleasant, CMU students, faculty and the community will all benefit from Coastal Technologies operation within the SmartZone,” said CMURC President and CEO Nathan Long. “Faculty and students will be able to participate and contribute to the development of solutions that address real-world problems. And as e-Health Technologies grows, so will employment opportunities, investment and the tax base for the community.”

One of 11 designated Michigan SmartZones, Mount Pleasant is managed by CMURC and economic development partner Middle Michigan Development Corp. The SmartZone program was designed by the Michigan Economic Development Corp. to attract and assist high-tech businesses that require a synergistic relationship with a research intensive university like CMU.

Learn more about the Mount Pleasant SmartZone and CMURC by clicking on CMURC.Com