MU Health Care expands Missouri Orthopaedic Institute

MU Health Care began construction on a $40 million, four-story expansion to its Missouri Orthopaedic Institute, which will be completed in 2017.

The expansion will take the Institute from 114,000 to almost 200,000 square feet. Three floors will make more room for surgical, impatient, outpatient and physical therapy services, while the fourth floor will be dedicated to research.

The main entrance will move from the north side to the east side and will include a circle drive to improve patient access. Additionally, a pedestrian walkway will be added from the institute to the Virginia Avenue parking garage.

The expansion will also include:

— five more operating rooms, bringing the building total to 12

— 22 more private impatient rooms, bringing the building total to 42

— three more digital X-ray rooms, bringing the building total to seven

— 19 more outpatient exam rooms, bringing the building total to 70

— a larger restaurant for patients and visitors

— an added coffee kiosk in the main lobby

The Missouri Orthopaedic Institute, built in 2010, is already the largest freestanding orthopedic surgery center in central Missouri. It staffs 400 employees.

“Because the demand for orthopedic surgical services has grown so rapidly, we need to expand so that we can maintain an optimum healing environment for the patients we serve,” said Dr. James Stannard, medical director of the institute, in a press release.

MU Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin sees this expansion as a way to continue to meet the mission of MU Health Care.

“With the expansion of the Missouri Orthopaedic Institute, we will be able to offer a superior platform for patient care, education and research, which is the mission of our health system,” Loftin said. “As part of an academic medical center, this facility also plays a vital role in medical education and research.

Photos provided by MU Health Care.