COLUMBIA − MU Health Care and Community Health Systems have formed a relationship in an effort to increase access to specialty services and enhance health care for people in northeastern Missouri.
The new relationship will bring MU Health Care physicians to the Northeast Regional Medical Center (NRMC) in Kirksville and Moberly Regional Medical Center (MRMC), which are both operated by Tennessee-based Community Health Systems.
The alignment builds upon an existing relationship between the two health systems in which MU Health Care physicians staff the emergency department at MRMC and provide tele-neonatology consultations to physicians caring for newborns at NRMC.
“This strategic relationship aligns with our commitment to expand access to health care in Missouri’s rural communities and affirms our mission to save and improve lives,” said Nim Chinniah, vice chancellor for health affairs at MU Health Care.
The collaboration aims to make it possible for more families to be able to access the necessary medical care in their area.
“The best care is provided close to home,” Chinniah said.
Under the relationship agreement, the health systems will identify additional ways to collaborate, support and grow services throughout the region.
Chinniah says the biggest challenges health care companies are currently facing are recruitment and retention of talent.
“When someone does a rotation in a community hospital, they usually end up living and working in that community,” Chinniah said. “It is great for the community to see physicians who were trained in the same hospital that they continue to live in work for years later.”
The organizations are actively working to reach a conclusive agreement in the upcoming months, with specifics of the integration anticipated by the year’s end. Additionally, the final agreement will require approval from the MU Health Care and Capital Region Medical Center’s boards of directors.