The Boone Health Department and Audrain County officials signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) on Friday, intending to jointly develop a master health plan that includes construction of a new hospital for the county.
The NDA will allow for a complete review of the county's medical needs.
“The signing of the NDA allows us to fully share information, come up with an assessment of the medical needs of the region, and consider what is needed in terms of facility needs,” said Brady Dubois, CEO of Boone Health. Together, we can develop a strategic plan to achieve this goal.”
Dubois told KOMU 8 that Boone Health has been in discussions with Audrain County officials for several weeks and is focused on providing health care to county residents.
Being able to have more in-depth conversations allows Boone Health to identify past trends and determine how to build facilities that meet the needs of the community, Dubois said.
“What do we need from a colonoscopy standpoint, from a mammography standpoint, from a regular health screening standpoint? To design a facility that meets the county's needs today and its needs in the future, those numbers are What will it look like?'' Dubois said.
A critical access hospital is likely to be established as part of the long-term plan.
“Boone Health, known as a community health system with a proven track record of delivering quality outcomes, is a critical access provider in Mexico,” said Craig Brace, administrator and CEO of the Audrain County Health Department. “We are more than qualified to consider establishing a hospital.”
Audrain County has remained without a hospital since Noble Health closed its regional hospitals in Audrain and Callaway counties in March 2022.
The hospital is currently owned by Jiva Medical, and one of its owners said they plan to reopen the facility early this year.
Dubois said he has no intention of working outside of the hospital in Giva. He regretted that Boone Health is focused on designing his own critical access hospital, which will take time to establish.
“The process from completing the design to funding sources, certificate of need and construction will take three years,” Dubois said. “Construction alone will take at least 18 to 20 months, so we hope to proceed with development in the near future.” It's about working toward a fundamental solution. ”
This also means emergency medical care will have to wait.
“In Missouri, you're not allowed to have a free-standing emergency room, you have to have a hospital, so once the hospital opens, you'll have 24/7 care. ,” Dubois said.
Dr. Charles Tillman, a cardiologist with Missouri Heart Hospital and a resident of Mexico, Missouri, said area residents are very interested in having more medical care in the county.
“Years ago, when we had a hospital, we were caring for over 40,000 people, and now we don't have a hospital at this point, and the situation is very difficult at best,” Tillman said. . “Every day in my office, I'm asked what I'm going to do for the hospital.”
Dubois said the expansion into Audrain County will add more than 150 jobs. He said Boone Health was financially ready to take on the project and the company's first quarter of 2024 was excellent.
Boone Health currently operates two primary care centers in Mexico and provides care in 26 counties in central Missouri.
