Medical Systems in Columbia, MO
This page is part of the LOVE Columbia information library website. To contact the organization listed below, please follow links or phone numbers given within the article.
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There are three hospital systems in Columbia:
• University of Missouri Health Care
• Boone Health
• Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital
Staying Within One Medical System
Your medical care is optimized by staying within one system.
• Each system has its own electronic medical record. Providers within the system can easily access your records. Those outside the system have more difficulty accessing your records.
• If you seek care outside of your normal system, your provider may need to make decisions with incomplete information or wait for records to be transferred, which can delay your care.
• Tests may need to be repeated if your provider cannot get access to your previous test results.
• Providers generally have better access to other providers within the same system. Often providers are expected to refer patients to specialists within the same system.
• Your personal information and insurance information is shared within a system. If you receive care in another system, you will have to provide this information again.
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University of Missouri Health Care
University of Missouri Health Care is the largest health care system in Columbia. It consists of the University Hospital, many primary care clinics and specialty clinics which are owned by MU Health Care.
A few of the major facilities in the University of Missouri Health Care system include:
• Children’s Hospital
• Ellis Fischel Cancer Center
• Missouri Orthopedic Institute
• Missouri Psychiatric Center
You can find a list of all of the locations in the MU Health Care system here: Locations | MU Health Care
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Boone Health
The Boone Health system consists of Boone Hospital, some primary care and specialty clinics which it owns, as well as privately-owned clinics affiliated with Boone Hospital.
Some privately-owned clinics affiliated with Boone Hospital include:
• Women’s Health Associates
• Missouri Cancer Associates
• Columbia Orthopedic Group
• Tiger Pediatrics
• Urology Associates of Central Missouri
• Gastrointestinal Associates
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Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital
Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital is part of the federal Veterans Administration and provides care to veterans. It has outpatient clinics in Columbia and surrounding communities.
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Independent Clinics and Services
In addition to the hospital systems, there are also independent primary care clinics and urgent cares.
There are also independent laboratories and imaging services such as Boyce and Bynum and Advanced Radiology.
Some independent clinics may have limited access to electronic records from the University Hospital or Boone Hospital. However, hospitals and clinics within those systems often do not have access to the records from independent clinics. Even the privately-owned clinics that are closely affiliated with Boone Hospital do not have electronic records that are easily accessed by staff at Boone Hospital.
Be Prepared
Because access to medical records and communication between health systems can be limited, patients can play an important role in helping their care teams share information. Preparing in advance can reduce delays and prevent gaps in care. Patients are encouraged to bring copies of important medical records to appointments outside their usual health system, along with a brief written summary of their medical history. This preparation helps ensure that providers have the information they need to make safe and timely decisions.
Patients can help facilitate communication by bringing:
• A current medication list, including dosages and allergies
• A summary of medical conditions and past surgeries
• Recent test results, imaging reports, or discharge summaries
• Contact information for current providers and pharmacies
• Insurance cards and photo identification
• Get access to the patient portals offered by the hospital systems and by many independent clinics and services