Boone Health to open new cardiology clinic Monday following fallout with Missouri Heart Center
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Boone Health will have its new cardiology clinical practice open and operating starting Monday.
Boone Health announced the split with Missouri Heart Center at the end of March and filed a lawsuit alleging breaches of contract, misuse of confidential information and plans to engage in unlawful competition.
Roughly 20,000 patients are expected to be affected by the transition, according to previous reporting, but Boone Health officials claim there will be little interruption. All of the Missouri Heart records will be transferred to the Boone Health system and the location of the clinics will remain the same.
In Columbia, cardiology patients will be seen at 1605 East Broadway, Broadway Medical Plaza Building 2, Suite 300. Clinics in Mexico, Macon and Moberly will continue operations in their same locations, as well. Boone Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Lana Zerrer claims connecting with patients will now also be easier because Boone will be the singular point of contact.
"I think once we're up and operational, there's one place to call which is Boone Health Cardiology Clinic. So I think it'll be much smoother," Zerrer said.
Due to the quick turnaround, Boone's Cardiology clinic will only have about half of the staff Missouri Heart Center had at the start. However, Zerrer claims it will still be actively hiring for the next year and a half to eventually have more care providers than the Missouri Heart Center.
"We've already hired five physicians and four advanced practice nurses. Missouri Heart Center had 12 physicians and they had six advanced practice nurses," Zerrer said.
Zerrer wants the cardiology clinic to eventually have 14-16 physicians on staff.
Two physicians from the Columbia area will be staying with Boone cardiology - Dr. Jerry Kennett, Dr. John Boyer. Four advanced practice nurses – Kathi Lutz, Lauren Lenauer, Hillary Burks and Patti Kean – who were formerly with the Missouri Heart group also will join the Columbia location. Dr. Charles Tillman will also remain at the Mexico clinic.
Two additional cardiologists, Dr. John Best and Dr. Rai Shahjehan, will be joining the clinic in the coming weeks. Boone Health officials said they have several offers out to cardiologists who have applied from across the country.
If patients don’t hear from Boone Health or need prescription refills, they are encouraged to call the clinic at 573-815-LOVE (5683).
Zerrer said all services offered will remain the same for patients.
"If patients have a heart attack or chest pain or any kind of rhythm disturbance they can still come to the hospital and get full care. We still have full imaging capabilities for echocardiogram, nuclear medicine studies, any kind of EKG or Holter monitoring," Zerrer said. "In the clinic, we will have providers and physicians there to see patients and also to do testing."
Zerrer also touched on the financial impact to Boone Health amid taking over operations.
"We have bought furniture and equipment from Missouri Heart Center so that all stays in the space. We are paying some money for the medical record transition and then we're hiring people, which always cost money, but those are good investments," Zerrer said.
As for the lawsuit between the two corporations, a jury trial has been requested. Boone Health is asking a judge to rule the noncompete agreements that MO Heart signed are valid, as well as having MO Heart return or destroy confidential information, and delay starting a competing practice until May 2027.
