University of Missouri Health Care (MU Health Care) has concluded the integration with Jefferson City affiliate Capital Region Medical Center.

The health systems merger unites the Capital Region Medical Center and MU Health Care to a unified brand dubbed MU Health Care.

The integration is the latest milestone in a collaboration that has been evolving for over two and half decades.

It was publicly declared by the organisations in June last year aimed at merging the community health system’s strengths along with a premier academic health system’s capabilities. 

MU Health Care CEO Ric Ransom said: “With the combined strengths of community and academic medicine, we are proud to be a part of a healthier future for the Jefferson City community.

“Our mission is to save and improve lives and that is what we will do through expanded access to quality health care close to home.”

MU Health Care is a key academic health system in the Jefferson City region and offers new innovations and discoveries in medicine to the community.

The centre already started adding new specialty services at Capital Regional Medical Center, comprising a spine clinic, a bariatric surgery and weight management programme as well as emergency medicine observation unit.

University of Missouri health affairs vice chancellor Nim Chinniah said: “For more than two decades, MU Health Care and Capital Region Medical Center have had a shared commitment to find a way to provide the best care for mid-Missouri, a way to keep patients close to home and to support the health of our communities beyond the walls of our hospitals.

“We are thrilled to have completed the evolution of our shared commitment and we express our deep appreciation to the Capital Region Medical Center Board for their tireless leadership, stewardship and partnership throughout this process.”