Columbia Family Medical Group and University of Missouri Health have announced that they’ll affiliate, effective immediately. MU Health spokeswoman Mary Jenkins says there will be no layoffs.
Jenkins notes staff is based on patient volumes. She tells Missourinet that if patient volumes increase, they will increase staffing.
MU Health Care employs more than 500 university physicians. Columbia Family Medical Group is an eight-provider group, which has provided primary care in mid-Missouri for 40 years.
MU Health Care chief executive officer Mitch Wasden says their goal is to build on “Columbia’s already-excellent reputation” as a destination for primary care.
“This affiliation will allow both Columbia Family Medical Group and University of Missouri Health Care to create new opportunities to collaborate, improve and promote high quality care for patients in central Missouri,” Wasden said in a written statement.
Columbia Family Medical Group medical director Dr. George Prica says both organizations share a “common goal” of advancing patient care, medical education and medical research.
“This new affiliation between Columbia Family Medical Group and MU Health is a model for integrating health care resources to better serve patients, while preserving the historic strengths of Columbia’s community physicians,” Dr. Prica said in a written statement.
Doctors at Columbia Family Medical Group have privileges at Columbia’s Boone Hospital Center. Under the new affiliation, they’ll also have privileges at University Hospital, MU Women’s and Children’s Hospital and other MU Health Care facilities.
The agreement also calls for Columbia Family Medical Group to retain its unique identity. Columbia Family Medical Group physicians and staff will continue to serve patients on North Keene in Columbia.