University of Missouri System advisory committee approves construction of new children’s hospital
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
An advisory committee to the University of Missouri System Board of Curators approved a plan to build a new children's hospital in Columbia.
According to the plan, the MU Health Care Children's Hospital would be built at the corner of Hitt and Lake streets just east of University Hospital.
After the finance committee's vote on Tuesday, the full board of curators will hear the proposal during its Nov. 19 meeting. If approved, planning for the new facility will begin shortly thereafter.
University plans say the facility would integrate "services provided at Women’s and Children’s Hospital with those on the central clinical campus on Hospital Drive in Columbia."
University officials say future use of Women's and Children's is underway and that a plan for repurposing the facility could be decided by next spring.
Committee documents say $232 million has been budgeted for the whole seven-story, 323,400 square foot project. The plan anticipates $25 million will be fundraised from private gifts.
According to the documents, both MU Hospital and Women's and Children's operate at full capacity and have limited ability to expand. The plan said occupancy rates at both hospitals hovers around 85% but can increase up to 95% over the winter.
Documents say optimal occupancy for both hospitals is 70%.
If approved, the hospital would have 142 patient beds. It would also include units for children's cancer, ICU, as well as, labor and delivery. Construction could finish by the summer of 2024.
