High patient volume has helped spur better-than-expected finances and proposed tentative building plans at Columbia-based University of Missouri Health Care, according to a Columbia Daily Tribune report.
Here are six things to know.
1. Year to date, MU Health Care reported higher-than-budgeted net revenue and operating income as of October. Net revenue was nearly $330 million, or $16.5 million above budget, while operating income was $37 million, or about $24 million above budget, according to the report, citing a report from Jennifer Doll, MU Health Care's executive director of finance and controller.
2. The growth is, at least in part, attributed to MU Health Care's patient volume metrics increasing in multiple categories. Columbia Daily Tribune reports the system expected nearly 212,000 clinic visits this year but has exceeded that by almost 11,000 visits. "Inpatient and outpatient surgeries are also slightly above the projected totals," the report states.
3. As far as year-to-date operating expenses, MU Health Care ended up about $1 million above budget as of October.
4. Amid its better-than-expected finances, the system plans to add capacity, Specifically, MU Health Care is adding 24 inpatient beds, for a total of more than 600, and plans to eventually add another 24 beds, MU Health Care CEO Jonathan Curtright said, according to the report.
5. In the meantime, the system is in discussions with trustees of Columbia-based Boone Hospital Center about a possible collaboration. If Boone does successfully join MU Health Care, St. Louis-based BJC HealthCare will consider terminating its 30-year operating lease with Boone early.
6. MU Health Care is also is planning a $500 million project to expand or build facilities, including tentative University Hospital and Women's and Children's Hospital inpatient expansions as well as constructing a new primary care clinic and other locations, according to the report. These plans may change depending on funding and whether MU Health Care and Boone Hospital Center decide to collaborate.
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