MU Health Care announces intent to integrate with Capital Region Medical Center
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Two Mid-Missouri healthcare systems announced their intention to integrate on Thursday.
According to a news release, leaders from MU Health Care and affiliate Capital Region Medical Center signed a letter of intent to "fully integrate their health systems."
The two systems have been affiliated for more than 25 years. MU Health Care serves patients in 114 counties and offers a variety of facilities. Capital Region Medical Center, which is in Jefferson City, includes a hospital, cancer center and clinics across eight counties.
Due to the rapidly changing healthcare landscape, the two parties decided it was time to fully integrate.
“The healthcare industry has changed since our partnership began. We must evolve to continue serving our communities while creating new opportunities for our patients and employees,” said Gaspare Calvaruso, Capital Region Medical Center president. “As the health care industry landscape changes, we continue to see more frequent integration of community hospitals with larger health systems for efficiency and to create a more sustainable model of care.”
Hospitals are struggling with inflation and low reimbursement for care and staff shortages. Integrations are one of the many strategies hospitals across the state are using to combat that. Just earlier this month St. Luke's health system announced plans to merge with BJC Healthcare
"We are needed by our community," Calvaruso said during Thursday's press conference. "We are here for the community and this integration and becoming one with mu really allows us to do that in the best fashion."
The integration will allow the two systems to provide better health care to patients. This includes enhanced electronic medical records more communication between care providers and easier access to specialty care.
The changes from this integration will not cost patients any extra and could also help provide healthcare workers with extra benefits down the road.
"Our board is extremely supportive," Calvaruso said. "I know the University of Missouri is extremely supportive and everybody’s intent is to go forward with this. but we do need to finalize some details and that will be coming in the forthcoming months."
