University of Missouri Hospital - History

History

University Hospital is the third hospital owned and operated by the University of Missouri. Parker Memorial Hospital, built in 1901, was a 45-bed facility that served as the original clinical home for the University's medical and nursing programs. In 1906 it was decided that the hospital needed to be upgraded and a new 75-bed facility was opened in 1923, bringing the total bed number to 120. Both Parker Memorial Hospital and Noyes Hospital still serve the University Hospital as Parker and Noyes Halls, respectively.

After ten years of political debate, it was decided that the University of Missouri needed a new hospital facility and that this facility should be located in Columbia, Mo. $13,500,000 was appropriated for construction and the seven floor structure was designed as a 441-bed, 28 bassinet, outpatient and emergency care facility, which was completed in 1956. The Medical Sciences Building and McHaney Hall, the nurse dormitory, were connected to the structure to make up the University of Missouri Medical Center.

Constructed in the mid-1960s, the Harry S. Truman Veterans Administration Hospital, located due south of the Medical Center, shares medical staff with the hospital. Also constructed in the mid-1960s was the Mid-Missouri Mental Health Center. Although separate from the hospital, Mid-Mo and the Medical Center shared many functions and helped to reduce costs due to duplication of effort. In 1976 the hospital and clinics were administratively separated from UM Medical School control and became officially known as University Hospital and Clinics. In 1979 a new building was constructed for the School of Nursing.

The parent organization of University Hospital, University of Missouri Healthcare, struggled financially for several years and lost nearly $40 million between fiscal 2000 and 2002. In 2001, hospital officials embarked on a plan to attack the deficit by laying off some employees, improving billing procedures and realigning some hospital services. The university system hired a private medical management firm, The Hunter Group, in 2002 which created a turnaround based on management and accountability practice changes. Hunter Management also recruited nearly 50 new faculty members.

In 2003, MU Health reported more than $8 million in profits, and Hunter Management handed control back to MU in spring 2004. In fiscal years 2006-2007, the system continued its financial turnaround by posting combined earnings of $72.7 million.

In 2009 ground was broken for a new $203 million dollar patient care tower to be located north of the hospital main entrance. The six story patient care tower is expected to house Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, room for up to 12 additional operating rooms and 51 pre-and post-operation recovery rooms, and 90 private patient rooms. The addition is expected to be complete by 2013.