Columbia MO Schools and Higher Learning

The city’s families benefit from an unusually rich assortment of education options for their children, ranging from high-quality public schools to several independent private schools, some of them faith-based.

That wide range of choices continues all the way through higher education. The Columbia area is home not only to the state’s flagship university but to an excellent community college and multiple smaller colleges and universities.

Columbia Public Schools
www.cpsk12.org | (573) 214-3400

Columbia Public School District is the fifth largest district in the state, with an enrollment of 18,654 students. It includes 21 elementary schools, six middle schools, four high schools and the Columbia Area Career Center, as well as an early childhood program.

The district is accredited by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, which has cited such educational advantages as:

• Comprehensive curriculum and services at all grade levels, including preschool and adult.
• Exceptional programs for at-risk students and students with disabilities.
• Extensive depth and breadth in middle school and high school course offerings.
• Award-winning career education programs designed for all students.
• Successful community partnerships and volunteer programs.
• Significant emphasis on staff development and school improvement efforts.

80 to 90 percent of Columbia students extend their education beyond high school. The average 2018 ACT composite score (21.3) exceeds state and national averages, with more than 1,200 students taking the exam. The graduation rate is above 90 percent.

Columbia Public Schools is nationally recognized as a District of Distinction by District Administration magazine. Its schools are nationally ranked by Newsweek magazine and by SchoolMatch with the “What Parents Want” award. Columbia Public Schools is also ranked as a top ten district for its technology use by the National School Boards Association and ranked in the top ten percent of school districts nationwide by Niche.com.

Over the past decade the school district has opened a new high school and four new elementary schools, added on to three existing elementary schools, and built additional gyms at two high schools. The school district also fully renovated Douglass High School in 2017. A new middle school in south Columbia is currently under construction and is set to open in 2020. An addition and renovation to Locust Street Expressive Arts Elementary School is also planned.

The district includes three “lottery” elementary schools that draw students from throughout the district whose families desire an education with a special emphasis. Benton Elementary specializes in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). Ridgeway Elementary is an independent guided education school. Locust Street Expressive Arts Elementary focuses on the arts. In 2020, Jefferson Middle School will transition to a Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math school and will have both a defined attendance area and a lottery option. ›

Additional Choices for Families

Christian Chapel Academy
www.explorecca.org | (573) 874-2325

In fact, some of its students hail from India, Japan, China and other countries as well as Ashland, Boonville, Hallsville, Hartsburg, Fulton and other towns in Central Missouri.

“But the biggest thing we want our students to achieve is the ability to lead themselves”, Barringer said.

The school empowers students to be comfortable with who they are, to have high moral character, and to be a light unto the world. We give an award each month to the student in each class who best exemplifies these characteristics and traits.”

In 2018 CCA won the Columbia Tribune Readers Choice Award for best private school and was a finalist in the competition’s “best preschool” and “best daycare” categories.

Christian Fellowship School
www.cfsknights.org (573) 445-8565

Christian Fellowship School provides quality Christian education in a community of grace where students are known and loved. Established in 1981, CFS offers a college preparatory education to more than 290 students from four-year-old preschool through 12th grade.

CFS prides itself on being small enough to provide personal attention to every student, yet large enough to offer a variety of support services, learning experiences and extracurricular activities, including middle school and high school sports.

Students come from a variety of Christian backgrounds and denominations, and their families represent more than 35 different congregations in the Mid-Missouri area. CFS faculty and staff also have varied Christian backgrounds, but share a commitment to faith in Jesus Christ, as well as presenting a Biblical worldview in their subject areas and modeling Christian character.

CFS teachers are intentional in their efforts to help students experience academic success, spiritual growth and character development. To this end, the school’s instructional goals and extracurricular activities are designed to train students in three primary areas: knowledge, faith and character. In addition to the essential, core subject areas, students have classes in computer, visual arts and music with opportunities in middle school and high school to participate in choir, band (starting in fifth grade), speech and drama.

Dual-credit courses are offered in the high school, so students can earn both college and high school credits. Students also attend daily Bible classes and weekly chapel services.

CFS students are regularly recognized for their academic and athletic achievements. Over 90 percent of CFS graduates continue their education at four-year universities and colleges.

Columbia Independent School
www.cislions.org | (573) 777-9250

Columbia Independent School, a college preparatory school, provides a stimulating learning environment and a challenging curriculum that together prepare students to become creative, compassionate and insightful leaders.

CIS serves nearly 350 students in junior kindergarten through Grade 12. The classic liberal arts curriculum includes courses in the fine arts and modern languages, beginning as early as junior kindergarten and continuing through the upper school years.

“The school prepares students for the rigorous academic life in college and success in the global world. This preparation is achieved through small class sizes, a committed faculty, a safe and close-knit community built on diverse backgrounds, and lively and engaging classrooms, which exude the joy of living”, CIS said.

The school originated in 1996, when a group of 32 families, led by Justin Perry, came together to create a new educational opportunity in Columbia. In the fall of 1998 CIS opened its doors in Hickman Hall on the Stephens College campus to 55 students in grades six through nine, with ›
16 teachers. Then in 2002 CIS established a lower-school program in Sacred Heart Parish School’s former building. The school moved to its current building on North Stadium Boulevard in 2009, unifying all the grade levels under one roof.

The student body comes from a variety of socio-economic, religious, ethnic and racial backgrounds within the area, as well as internationally. Students of color comprise 26 percent of the CIS population.

The school’s Global Perspectives Program introduces students to international cultures through modern language, global issues, the arts and cultural exchanges. Off-campus study programs for upper-school students include the opportunity to study abroad at CIS’s sister school, Cheadle Hulme School in England. International service opportunities are also available to students entering their senior year through a partnership with be the Change Volunteers. Through this program CIS students have traveled to South Africa, India, Guatemala, Malawi, Peru and Papua New Guinea.

CIS’s Center for Inspiration, Innovation and Investigation engages all students’ natural curiosity with challenging hands-on projects focused on science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

A full slate of extracurricular offerings, from athletics to character-development programs, rounds out the CIS experience.

FR. TOLTON CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
www.Toltoncatholic.org (573) 445-7700

Founded in 2011, Fr. Tolton Catholic High School in Columbia facilitates the growth of the whole student: spirit, heart, mind and body.

In its eighth year, Tolton Catholic serves 273 students of varying faith backgrounds from a 50-mile radius. Named for trailblazing priest Fr. Augustus Tolton, the school serves students in grades nine through 12. It boasts a student-to-faculty ratio of better than 12-to-1. Through smaller class sizes, a strong faith community and a challenging college-preparatory curriculum, Tolton actively prepares students to serve others and become leaders for the 21st century.

The school’s strong academic programs are supported by numerous Advanced Placement and dual-credit offerings, as well as a one-to-one technology program.

Founded upon the teachings of Jesus Christ, the school educates its students in Catholic theology, and they attend weekly Mass and annual faith retreats. Tolton’s “house system” promotes involvement, leadership and service for the greater good by blending students from all grades into smaller communities who work together with a focus on faith formation, team building, mentorship and service.

Tolton’s Trailblazers compete in 15 sports and claim multiple state championships. The school also offers numerous fine arts activities and clubs.

“As a college-preparatory school, we have high expectations for both behavior and academic performance for our students,” said Coordinator of Strategic Communications Joe Bradley.

“As a relatively young school, students who choose to attend Tolton Catholic truly have the chance to blaze their own trail,” Bradley said. “While it will take many more years to establish true traditions, students are actively involved in shaping the culture of our school for years to come. Our students have several opportunities to be the first to achieve an accomplishment here: The first to win a championship in a particular sport, the first to start a club or activity, the first to attend a certain college.”

HIGHER EDUCATION OPTIONS

The University of Missouri
www.missouri.edu | (573) 882-2121

As well as being the city’s largest employer, the University of Missouri’s sprawling Columbia campus is the state’s largest institution of higher learning.

Affectionately known as “Mizzou” or “MU,” this flagship state university was founded in 1839. More than 175 years later, the university serves nearly 30,000 students from all over the world, and it is known as one of the country’s finest academic and research institutions.

Mizzou offers more than 300 degree programs — including more than 100 online options — through 19 colleges and schools. Mizzou students represent every Missouri county, all 50 states and 120 foreign countries.

The university has reduced expenses for students by lowering the cost of many housing and dining plans, and working with the University of Missouri System to reduce the cost of textbooks through innovative partnerships. In 2017 the university introduced the Missouri Land Grant program, which guarantees that Missouri students who are Pell-eligible and qualify for admission can come to Mizzou tuition free.

People across the state connect with Mizzou by participating in extension programs in every county, visiting MU Health Care specialists, competing in state competitions in MU facilities and cheering on the Missouri Tigers at athletic events. Mizzou’s NCAA Division I athletic program has 20 sports, with many teams ranked in the top 25 nationally.

The university’s performance in research, scholarship and teaching has been recognized by the Association of American Universities, which has invited the university to join its exclusive membership of only 60 public and private American universities.

The university’s nationally prominent faculty bring discoveries into the classroom and publish about 2,000 scholarly articles and 50 books annually. ›

In 2018 George P. Smith, a professor emeritus of biological sciences, was among a trio of researchers who won the 2018 Nobel Prize in chemistry for research that led to the production of new antibodies used to cure metastatic cancer and counteract autoimmune diseases, among other applications. Students at Mizzou learn from professors who are the best in their fields.

Students benefit from hands-on learning while contributing more than 440,000 hours of community service annually, participating in undergraduate research and taking advantage of Missouri’s largest study-abroad program.

Beyond educating the state’s future leaders, the University of Missouri is a vital economic engine for the region and state. In 2018, nationally recognized consulting firm Tripp Umbach found that Mizzou had a $3.9 billion impact on the state of Missouri. Additionally, MU accounts for about 67 percent of the research dollars flowing to Missouri public universities. Research generates new knowledge and new jobs.

MACC – Columbia
www.Macc.edu | (573) 234-1067

MACC – Columbia (the Columbia campus of Moberly Area Community College and MACC’s five other nearby campuses are a key component of the educational system in the Columbia region. The area’s community college offers associate degrees in a variety of subjects, along with a full slate of terminal certificate programs. The school’s open-admissions approach and affordable tuition ensure that it is accessible to the widest range of people.

MACC is one of the most affordable ways to earn a college education yet offers unique co-enrollment programs that allow students to live on the campus of a four-year college or university while attending classes at both institutions. And MACC offers flexible learning opportunities ranging from traditional classroom settings to online and online synchronous instruction.

“This partnership is allowing MACC to offer programs in Columbia by utilizing the space at the Columbia Area Career Center. MACC assumed the Practical Nursing program in June 2018 and will graduate the first Columbia PN class in July 2019,” said Michelle Frey, the Dean of Health Sciences. “MACC is working with CACC to assume the Surgical Technology program too. MACC is currently offering the general education prerequisite courses for the Associate Degree in Surgical Technology and is working to obtain accreditation for the program. The plan is to begin offering the professional courses in January 2020.”

MACC recently rebranded itself as “The College for you.” And it has become just that with more than 5,200 students each semester. The recent launch of co-enrollment programs with the University of Missouri and Stephens College allows students to be co-enrolled with a four-year institution, live on campus and participate in student activities all while taking advantage of the tuition savings MACC has to offer.

MACC offers the following degree and certificate programs on the Columbia campus:

Transfer Degrees

• Associate of Arts (AA)
• Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT)
• Associate of Science (AS)

Health Science Programs

• Occupational Therapy Assistant
• Practical Nursing
• Surgical Technology (coming January 2020)

Career and Technical Programs
Associate of Applied Science (AAS) Degrees:

• Business Administration
• Business Office Administration
• Computer Information Technology-Networking
• Computer Information Technology-Programming
• Early Childhood Education
• Mechatronics

Certificate Program:

• Heavy Highway Construction

Many additional programs are available at MACC’s central campus in Moberly and at MACC’s other campuses in Hannibal, Kirksville, Mexico and Macon. The school’s certificate programs have a high job-placement rate, and its Associate of Arts and Associate of Science programs prepare students well for the completion of a bachelor’s degree at four-year universities.

Recent additions to the MACC course catalog include a certificate program in “mechatronics,” an applied-science program that prepares students to maintain and repair the kind of sophisticated mechanical equipment found in contemporary manufacturing facilities.

Central Methodist University
www.centralmethoidist.edu
(660) 248-3391

Central Methodist University has provided high-quality education to Missouri and beyond since 1854. Its historic main campus in Fayette, a short half-hour drive from Columbia, is known for its exceptional programs in the fine and performing arts, health professions, science and teacher education. CMU programs are offered in Columbia at both the Parkade Center and the Forum Shopping Center, as well as many other locations across the state.

The university also offers a growing number of online classes and programs. Several graduate programs also are available, including two in Columbia – Clinical Counseling and Teacher Education. An Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program also is available in Columbia.

Ensuring that students have the highest level of technology at their fingertips, Central’s “Digital U” gives each undergraduate student at CMU’s main campus their own personal Apple iPad. Besides allowing instant access to fellow students, clubs, athletics, fine arts and campus activities, Digital U provides faster, smarter and more collaborative learning, the option of using printed textbooks or e-textbooks, and real-world experience with the technology that top employers use today.

Unveiled in the fall of 2018, Central fully renovated its historic Stedman Hall of Science, which houses top-of-the-line laboratories and classrooms, modernized equipment, and comfortable study and lounge areas. Just one example of the “technology at students’ fingertips” featured in Stedman Hall is an Anatomage Table – one of the most advanced pieces of visualization technology in medical science, used in many of the world’s leading medical schools and institutions. ›

Columbia College
www.Ccis.edu | (833) 844-3328

Columbia College has been helping students advance their lives through higher education for more than 165 years. As a private, nonprofit, coeducational liberal arts and sciences institution, the college takes pride in its small classes, experienced faculty and quality educational programs. It also has been a pioneer in providing education through more than 35 locations around the country and was a pioneer in online instruction.

Originally founded as Christian Female College, the school changed its name to Columbia College in 1970, when it transitioned from a two-year women’s college to a four-year coeducational institution. Though Columbia College has retained a covenant with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the college is a nonsectarian school welcoming students of all religious denominations.

Through its day and evening programs in Columbia, the Online Education program and its network of locations nationwide – 17 of them on military bases – the college serves more than 20,000 students annually.

In addition to offering associate degrees in ten fields and bachelor’s degrees in 58, the college offers master’s degrees in eight disciplines.

With continued growth at its campus in Columbia, additional student housing is a priority. To meet that need, the college broke ground on New Hall in March 2018 and will complete that in August 2019. The facility will serve as the new home for the Robert W. Plaster School of Business and also will serve as a residential setting for 150 students.

The Athletic Department has claimed the American Midwest Conference President’s cup in each of the past two seasons and 12 of the 18 programs played in their respective national tournaments in 2018. The volleyball, softball and eSports teams brought home runner-up finishes nationally.

The college also often appears on Military Times’ “Best for Vets: Colleges” list, including in 2019 edition. Approximately 30 percent of Columbia College students are service members, veterans or their dependents.

Stephens College
www.stephens.edu | (573) 442-2211

Established in 1833, Stephens College has been educating women for the lives that await them for 185 years. As the second-oldest women’s college in the nation, Stephens offers career-focused programs in the liberal arts with an emphasis on the creative arts and the health sciences.

Stephens — touting the mission: Learn. Grow. Lead. — takes an experiential approach to education, ensuring that students have access to quality classroom instruction combined with external work experiences designed to complement their coursework. The student-faculty ratio is
just 10:1.

With a student population of 1,000, Stephens is divided into three schools: the School of Creative and Performing Arts, the School of Design and the School of Health Sciences. The College’s Theatre Arts program is ranked No. 3 in the nation, according to The Princeton Review, which also ranks Stephens as number 17 for “best quality of life” and “great campus experience.”

The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion Design program is ranked No. 3 in the U.S. for long-term value by The Business of Fashion in London, which also ranks Stephens’ overall fashion program 22nd in the world.

The College offers innovative co-educational graduate programs, including a Master of Education in Counseling, a Master of Fine Arts in Television and Screenwriting, and a Master of Physician Assistant Studies, as well as continuing studies programs in Health Information Administration and Professional Conservatory Training.

For more than 90 years, the Children’s School at Stephens College has been offering student teachers experience in the classroom and serving the Columbia community with student-centered preschool and elementary programs. Each summer, the college’s Dream up Summer Camps give kids of all ages the opportunity to learn and explore their interests in areas like fashion, film, equestrian, and gaming and programming. Learn more at stephens.edu/summer-camps.

Stephens is also home to the first varsity eSports team at an all-women’s college. The College is a proud National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Champions of Character Five-Star Institution. Stephen’s student-athletes compete in six NAIA sports.

The Stephens Solution College Affordability Plan, announced in fall 2018, simplifies tuition pricing and promotes affordability for all students who dream of a private college education.

Boone Hospital Center combines local roots, big system’s resources

Boone Hospital Center has deep roots in the community. When it opened in 1921 it was the first hospital in Columbia. In a world of hi-tech and networking medicine that the people of the Roaring ‘20s would never have recognized. It reaches into the surrounding area with clinics in seven other towns. And it leads the way into the 21st Century with advances like the new MitraClip heart surgery procedure; a new health insurance product, the Priority Access Health Plan; and an employee environment that has earned it honors such as being named a “Missouri Breastfeeding Friendly Worksite.”

Boone Hospital Center, Broadway Medical Plaza and Nifong Medical Plaza belong to the people of Boone County and their ownership is managed by the hospital board of trustees, who are elected by the voters of Boone County. Under a lease arrangement, the Columbia operations now are managed by BJC HealthCare, one of the nation’s largest health care systems. The BJC system (named after Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Christian Hospital and Children’s Hospital, all in St. Louis) includes 14 hospitals plus a rehabilitation center, outpatient clinics, nursing homes and other health-related services throughout Missouri and Southern Illinois.

Boone Hospital has grown to become today’s 392-bed institution, offering the region’s care across a full spectrum of service line offerings. As part of the BJC system, Boone is known for its advanced cardiology care, obstetrics services, neurology expertise, surgical specialists, and oncology and orthopedic.

The hospital has a full-service emergency department, a rehabilitation unit, a Level III neonatal intensive care unit and state-of-the-art radiology services. It has been designated a Level I stroke center and a Level I STEMI center.

Boone also has a host of specialized programs serving a wide variety of medical needs such as an endocrine and diabetes clinic; an employee assistance program; an infectious disease program; pain management services; a sleep center; supportive care; weight loss assistance; a wound healing center; and the Harris Breast Center, which provides 3D mammography and DEXA scans.

Patients needing surgery can take advantage of Boone’s endoscopic, laser and robotic surgery procedures. In December 2018 Boone became the first hospital in Mid-Missouri to offer the MitraClip to repair leaky heart valves. In this procedure the ›
device is inserted through a catheter. Patients need to stay an average of only two days as in-patients, and the procedure can be used even on patients whose advanced age or other health conditions make them ineligible for traditional heart valve surgery.

In 2016 Boone Hospital opened the Nifong Medical Plaza in southern Columbia. Convenient care, primary care, radiology, therapy and laboratory services are all available at this new satellite location.

Outside of Columbia, the hospital provides care through Boone Medical Group clinics in Ashland, Boonville, Centralia, Glasgow, Hallsville and Mexico. The latest addition is a clinic in Osage Beach, which opened in 2017.

Boone’s commitment to improving the health of Mid-Missouri includes community outreach programs such as free cholesterol, A1C and skin cancer screenings on the hospital’s Mobile Health Unit; many community education events; and the Kids on Track program, which keeps children and their families active during summer months in multiple communities around Mid-Missouri. Boone Hospital also provides corporate wellness services to help Mid-Missouri employers promote good health on the job.

The Stewart Cancer Center at Boone Hospital is part of the Siteman Cancer Network, an affiliation led by the Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center in St. Louis. This affiliation gives Boone patients expanded access to cancer prevention and control strategies, genomic and genetic testing, and clinical trials. The institutions also jointly assess the need for cancer prevention, detection and treatment in their respective regions and plan ways to prevent and control the disease.

Boone Family Birthplace cares for mothers and babies, personalized according to the needs of each woman and her family, including low-intervention birth options, lactation counseling, perinatal education and family-friendly postpartum suites. When needed, the Level III neonatal intensive care unit, specialists and nurses are there to help with unexpected complications or high-risk pregnancies and deliveries.

Across these service lines, the hospital is fortunate to have the service of approximately 350 physicians, many of whom were trained at some of the most prestigious universities and medical schools in America. While the hospital employs some of these physicians directly, most belong to private physician practice groups.

To help both physicians and patients financially – and the patients’ employers – in 2018 some Boone-affiliated physicians created the NueHealth Provider Network Priority Access Health Plan. This priority access health plan, or PAHP, allows businesses with as few as two employees to provide employees the health care coverage they need.

The PAHP offers different plan levels of priority access to the primary care provider, similar to a concierge medicine plan, but without the high cost. Using a secure app on a smartphone, a patient can send their primary care physician a text message or request a video or voice chat. If their medical need requires an in-office visit, the PAHP ensures they’ll be seen by their physician within 24 hours. If they require a referral to a specialist, they won’t wait longer than a week to be seen.

Doctors benefit too. In traditional insurance plans, primary care physicians are compensated only for patient office visits and often provide hours of uncompensated care. The PAHP compensates primary care physicians in the network for all patient care, whether or not the patient needs an in-person appointment.

The PAHP is also more accessible and affordable for local employers. Businesses with as few as two employees – or as many as thousands – can participate.

In 2018 it became a Missouri Breastfeeding Friendly Worksite by providing time, space and other benefits to moms who wish to keep breastfeeding after they return to work at Boone.

For four years in a row, U.S. News & World Report has named Boone Hospital Center the No. 1 hospital in Mid-Missouri and one of the top-ranked hospitals in the state. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services rated Boone as the only five-star hospital in MId-Missouri. Boone is one of the few hospitals in the world to have been designated as a Magnet hospital three consecutive times by the American Nursing Credentialing Center, recognizing Boone’s commitment to nursing excellence and professional development. Nurses also have ranked Boone as one of the top hospitals to work for in Missouri at the website nurse.org.

For more information, about Boone Hospital Center, visit www.boone.org or call
(573) 815-8000.

University of Missouri Health Care offers full spectrum of care

Patients at University of Missouri Health Care are cared for by specialists from every field of medicine who work together to save and improve lives. MU Health Care is the state’s premier academic health system, and its team approach ensures each patient receives personalized attention and truly coordinated care.

From preventive health care to highly specialized treatments for serious illnesses or injuries, patients and families who choose MU Health Care have access to unique resources, including:

• A Level I trauma center, stroke center and STEMI heart attack center.
• The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Network, through a collaboration with Ellis Fischel Cancer Center.
• The state’s only hospital dedicated to women’s and children’s health care.
• Mid-Missouri’s first low-intervention birthing program.
• The region’s largest and most comprehensive orthopedic hospital, the Missouri Orthopedic Institute.
• The region’s largest medical group comprised of more than 600 physicians in more than 80 different specialties and subspecialties.

MU Health Care offers multiple options to help patients receive the right care at the right place at the right time. Convenient care options include video visits, Mizzou Quick Care clinics located in each of Columbia’s three Hy-Vee grocery stores, urgent care and two emergency departments.

Patients can also use a helpful online symptom checker to determine which level of care they need. Find more › information on these services or reserve a spot at a Mizzou Quick Care clinic by visiting www.MUHealth.org/convenient care.

In October 2018, MU Health Care unveiled an expanded and renovated emergency department at University Hospital. In addition to 18 new exam rooms, the emergency department also includes 10 fast-track exam rooms for patients with non-life-threatening injuries or illnesses, meaning patients get the care they need even faster.

When patients are away from home, they still have access to their health care team. Through a robust online portal, patients can manage appointments, securely message physicians, request prescription refills, access immunization history, view their physician notes after a visit and more. Patients can learn more about managing their care with MU Health Care’s patient portal at www.MUHealth.org/patient-login.

As the health care landscape continues to change, MU Health Care is committed to improving the health of patients throughout the state. The health system recently extended its advanced electronic medical record to Lake Regional Health System and Capital Region Medical Center in Jefferson City to unify health records and enhance the coordination of care throughout Missouri. Patients can securely message doctors, schedule appointments and access their health history across Lake Regional Health System, Capital Region Medical Center and MU Health Care.

The health system’s commitment to using technology to streamline the patient experience recently earned MU Health Care its eighth consecutive “Most Wired” award from the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives.

MU Health Care’s comprehensive health network began in 1956 when University Hospital opened in Columbia. Today, MU Health Care consists of University Hospital, Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, Women’s and Children’s Hospital, the Missouri Orthopedic Institute and the Missouri Psychiatric Center, all based in Columbia, as well as more than 50 outpatient clinics in central Missouri. Affiliates include Capital Region Medical Center, Columbia Family Medical Group, Columbia Surgical Associates and Rusk Rehabilitation Hospital. Additionally, MU Health Care is a founding member of the Health Network of Missouri and MPact Health, statewide networks to improve health care access and coordination of care.

MU Health Care is a part of University of Missouri Health, which also includes the MU School of Health Professions, MU School of Medicine, MU Sinclair School of Nursing and University Physicians practice plan.

To schedule a visit with an MU Health Care physician, please visit www.MUHealth.org. Connect with MU Health Care online at www.facebook.com/MUHealthCare, www.twitter.com/MUHealth and www.instagram.com/MUHealth. ›

Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital: “The Best Place to Work” and the health care focus for 40,000 veterans a year

Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital in Columbia is an academic health center that is committed to excellent patient care, education and research. Truman VA’s main medical center is a 126-bed facility that offers a full continuum of inpatient and outpatient health services. Truman VA also serves Veterans in rural parts of the state through eight community-based outpatient clinics located in Jefferson City, Kirksville, Marshfield, Mexico, Osage Beach, St. James, Sedalia and Waynesville.

Approximately 40,000 veterans receive health care at Truman VA each year for comprehensive services that include primary care, medical and surgical specialties, behavioral health, physical and occupational therapy, pharmacy services and more. As a referral center, Truman VA also provides cardiovascular care including open heart surgery.

Outpatient clinic appointments exceed 400,000 visits annually. Veterans from 43 counties in Missouri, as well as Pike County in Illinois, receive health services from Truman VA.

The medical center’s first major facility project in 2018 was the construction of a new Intensive Care Unit. The new unit, which was activated in November 2017, increased the number of ICU beds from 12 to 14. Each room now has its own private restroom; sliding doors for a quieter, more private environment; and larger space to accommodate furniture for family members who desire extended visitations.

Less than three months later, Truman VA activated a new Surgical Inpatient Unit in February 2018. The number of beds in this new unit increased from 16 to 18. All beds are now in private rooms, and like the new ICU, the Surgical Inpatient Unit is equipped with leading-edge vital sign monitors for automatic patient data entry. Additionally, each room in both units is equipped with a patient lift system. The lift systems protect staff by ensuring their ability to safely handle patients.

In August 2018, Truman VA began construction to expand the current parking structure. The expansion project will result in a four-story, 376,483-square-foot structure that will provide patients and staff with an additional 684 parking spaces. The garage expansion project is expected to be completed in fall 2019.

Another construction project currently underway is the Ambulatory Care Addition. Ambulatory care is a way to provide Veterans with a wide range of services, such as same-day medical procedures, that are performed in an outpatient setting. The addition is a two-phase project that will result in 15 dental treatment rooms, 18 examination rooms and 14 hematology/oncology infusion bays.

Technology and equipment procurements also are important to providing state-of-the-art care for Veterans. Acquisitions for 2018 included a new computed tomography system, an ultrasonic scanning system, an Alice diagnostic sleep system, vital-sign monitors, patient ceiling lifts, and bariatric recliners and sleep beds.

Truman VA also is upgrading OR five, which is a hybrid operating room. A hybrid OR is a surgical theater that is equipped with advanced medical imaging technology to enable specialized surgeries, such as TAVR heart procedures.

One of the newest, programs offered at Truman VA is Immediate Sequential Bilateral Cataract Surgery. Cataract surgery is one of the most commonly performed elective surgical procedures in the United States. In fact, the need for cataract surgery is expected to double within the next 20 years.

With traditional cataract surgery, patients usually have one eye procedure, then must return two weeks later to have the other eye surgery completed. However, in 2018 Truman VA became the first VA hospital to offer ISBCS. With ISBCS, surgery is performed on both eyes on the same day but as separate procedures. In most cases, the postoperative visual rehabilitation period is faster, and fewer visits to the clinic and hospital are needed.

Another program Truman VA has implemented recently is a new procedure for diagnosing recurrent prostate cancer. Prostate cancer often can be found before symptoms become apparent by testing the amount of prostate-specific antigen in the blood. However, most imaging tests have not been able to identify recurring prostate cancers because in those cases, PSA usually is only mildly increased. Truman VA now offers a new state-of-the-art diagnostic tool for recurrent prostate cancer using positron emission tomography imaging and the radiopharmaceutical drug, Axumin.

Truman VA recently was ranked No. 1 nationally as the best place to work by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ All Employee Survey. This is the second consecutive year Truman VA has been ranked No. 1 throughout VA by employees. It’s also the first time in the 17 years since the inception of the survey that a VA hospital has been ranked No. 1 for two consecutive years.

Truman VA also was recognized by several external organizations in 2018. For example, in may 2018 the medical center was recognized for 20 years of service to the Columbia Public Schools’ Partner in Education program.

The hospital also was designated a 2018 LGBTQ Healthcare Equality Leader by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. This is the medical center’s fifth consecutive year as a leader in the Healthcare Equality Index. Truman VA is one of only 418 hospitals nationwide — and one of only 14 in Missouri — to earn the Equality Leader designation.

Truman VA also received the 2018 Greenhealth Partner for Change Award from the nonprofit organization Practice Greenhealth. The award recognizes superior performance in environmental sustainability for various programs and activities.

For more information, visit
www.columbiamo.va.gov or call
(573) 814-6000.