No numbers being shared surrounding MU Health Care-Capital Region integration
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
MU Health Care and Capital Region Medial Center in Jefferson City completed the integration of its health systems last week, but leaders aren't sharing any numbers related to the cost of the merger.
A celebration event was held Wednesday in Jefferson City, but financial experts were not available. ABC 17 News reached out to MU Health Care last week and on Wednesday at the event.
Tax documents show Capital Region Medical Center lost almost $35 million from 2021-22.
MU Health Care has not stated the cost to integrate with Capital Region Medical Center, if integration costs were related to any MU Health Care leadership layoffs in March 2023 or Capital Region leadership layoffs in December or when MU Health Care expects its integration with Capital Region to become profitable.
"The integration of Capital Region Medical Center involved several financial factors. The total cost is not yet determined. We continue to incur expenses related to the transition and have several integration-related projects still ongoing," an MU Health Care spokesperson wrote in an email. "We are already seeing benefits from the synergies, efficiencies and flexibility that integration provides. Profitability will come. Our focus is on increasing access and creating a sustainable model of care to ensure local health care in Jefferson City and surrounding region for years to come."
While no numbers are being shared about the cost of the integration, MU Health Care leaders are excited about how this integration will better serve patients in the Mid-Missouri area.
Capital Region Chief Medical Officer Randy Haight said there had been talks about the obstacles Capital Region Medical Center was facing when it came to creating a cohesive system. He said integration was the answer. Plans to integrate were announced in June.
He said patient information will be shared through the same electronic health record system, so patients can seamlessly be moved from Jefferson City to Columbia.
"There are many legal things that prevent you from fully being able to take care and do the things you want," Haight said. "By integrating, we're able to remove those barriers so that we're able to take on things like bring in new services here and be able to do that more efficiently and effectively."
The two health systems are combining under the MU Health Care name after working closely together for 25 years. However, a Wednesday press release stated Capital Region Medical Center will remain the name of the hospital.
Haight said the transition has been smooth. He said the two systems will continue to work on smoothing out smaller things over the next few months.
MU Health Care has already started adding specialty services at the Jefferson City hospital, including a neurosurgical spine clinic and bariatric surgery clinic.
