As the health care landscape evolves, we're reimagining the way we deliver care to ensure we're able to meet the growing needs of our community long into the future.
As part of this, we're creating one centralized hospital campus in Columbia with a new patient care tower to house our new Children's Hospital and Birthing Center. This project will occur in phases — some specialties moved in the fall of 2021 from Women's and Children's Hospital on Keene Street to our central campus off Hospital Drive, while the rest will move by 2024.
By bringing our women's and children's services to our main hospital campus, we can better deliver what's most important to patients, including:
- Easier access to specialized physicians
- A more streamlined experience, with less time and distance between appointments
- Better care coordination across specialties
- Better access to state-of-the-art equipment and technology
Learn more about the project at muhealth.org/reimagine.
The latest referral information
We want to keep you updated as the project progresses. Please return to this page for updates.
Pediatric emergency services
- Our emergency room for kids has moved to University Hospital.
- Our board-certified pediatric emergency medicine specialists have a new and expanded space to treat seriously ill and injured children.
- The ER has the same kid-friendly amenities, including child life services, a facility dog and fun décor. It provides "ouchless" procedures when possible.
- HOW TO REFER: 855-MU4-KIDS
Note: Pregnant women needing emergency care should continue to go to the emergency room at Women's and Children's Hospital, which will be renamed Women's Hospital during this transition period.
Pediatric inpatient, general surgery and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)
- The pediatric inpatient floor and PICU services are located in University Hospital until the new Children's Hospital is complete in 2024.
- The current units include kid-friendly features as well as the necessary state-of-the-art equipment and supplies needed to care for kids.
- Pediatric general surgeries moved to University Hospital. Clinic consultations for pediatric general surgery remains at Women's Hospital.
- HOW TO REFER: 855-MU4-KIDS
Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Unit
- The Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center is now located in Ellis Fischel Cancer Unit
- HOW TO REFER: 573-771-3920 (phone), 573-219-3939 (fax)
Pediatric electroencephalography
- Outpatient EEG, inpatient peds EEG and long-term EEG monitoring are now located in University Hospital.
- The NICU and inpatient EEG services for neonates will stay at Women's Hospital until 2024.
- HOW TO REFER: 573-882-9249
- Long-term monitoring referrals can be directed to the pediatric neurology clinic at 573-882-6921.
Labor and delivery — anticipated move summer 2024
- Obstetrical care will remain at Women's Hospital until our new Birthing Center is complete in 2024.
- This includes OB triage, OB emergency services, labor and delivery, our well-baby nursery and our maternal newborn/postpartum floor.
- During this transition period, we will continue to provide all the same services and will work with you to direct your patients to the appropriate setting.
- HOW TO REFER: 888-884-6836 (transfer or consult)
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit — anticipated move summer 2024
- The NICU will stay at Women's Hospital until our new Children's Hospital is complete in 2024.
- Until then, our pediatric transport team will be a part of both the central campus and Women's Hospital and will continue to ensure our pediatric and neonatal patients are safely transported to their appropriate destinations.
- Surgeries for NICU patients will remain at Women’s Hospital.
- HOW TO REFER: 855-MU4-KIDS
Pharmacy — anticipated move summer 2024
- Both University Hospital and Women's Hospital pharmacy services will remain unchanged during the transition.
- University Hospital pharmacists and technicians will be trained to cover pediatric clinical and operational services.
- The pharmacy on Keene Street will close when all other services are transitioned in 2024.
Laboratory services — anticipated move summer 2024
- Both University Hospital and Women's Hospital lab services will remain unchanged during the transition.
- Routing of testing may change from one testing location to another based on critical needs and volumes. However, turnaround times should remain within acceptable ranges.
Radiology — anticipated move summer 2024
- Radiology services will continue at Women's Hospital, with the below exceptions. Most outpatient pediatric imaging, including but not limited to the below, will now be provided at University Hospital:
- Outpatients scheduled to be completed with sedation, including the Children’s Hospital Procedure Suite.
- Outpatients seen at the Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center.
- Nuclear medicine, MRI, CT, ultrasound and fluoroscopy.
- HOW TO SCHEDULE: 573-884-7770