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Hospital Headlines
Boone Health Upgrades Mammogram Machines
Boone Health added three state-of-theart Hologic Genius 3Dimensions highdefinition mammogram machines to its diagnostic imaging lineup. With two new units at the Harris Breast Center and one at Nifong Medical Plaza, Boone Health has completed an upgrade, bringing the latest in high-definition mammography technology to the community.
Boone Health Opens GYN Oncology & Surgery Office
Boone Health welcomes Sara Crowder, MD and Rachel Mallett, MSN, RN, FNP-BC as our new GYN Oncology & Surgery team. Dr. Crowder is a board-certified gynecologic oncologist, and Rachel is a board-certified nurse practitioner. Together, they have been a compassionate, high-performance team since 2004. Marking their 20 years in practice together this past summer as Gynecology Specialists, they made the move to Boone Health Medical Group in early October 2024 and are located in Broadway Medical Plaza 1.
Boone Health MRI Receives Full ACR Accreditation
Boone Health MRI services at both our hospital and Nifong locations recently received full accreditation from the American College of Radiology (ACR). This is an honor for the technologists and radiologists who provide excellent diagnostic imaging every day. This accreditation validates that Boone Hospital provides the highest level of imaging quality and safety by meeting ACR requirements for equipment, medical personnel and quality assurance.
Local Leaders and Boone Health Sign Letter of Intent to Establish Critical Access Hospital in Audrain County
At a ceremonial signing event at Mexico City Hall in October 2024, the Audrain County Commission, city of Mexico, Audrain County Health Department, and Boone Health took a significant step toward enhancing healthcare access in the region as they signed a formal Letter of Intent (LOI) to begin the process of establishing a Medicare-certified critical access hospital in Mexico, Mo. The new hospital will feature emergency care services and provide Audrain County residents with critical care that does not currently exist in the community.
“This is a very exciting day for our county and community. Signing the Letter of Intent with Boone Health, a top-quality health care provider, is a tremendous next step in the process of securing sustainable health care for our residents,” said Alan Winders, Audrain County Presiding Commissioner. “We are proud of the cooperative efforts of the Audrain County Health Department, the city of Mexico and the Audrain County Commission standing with Boone Health as this process moves forward toward a better future for all of us.”
The LOI outlines the intent of all parties to work collaboratively toward a comprehensive agreement that would bring a new critical access hospital to the community. The proposed facility would provide emergency and related services, filling a critical healthcare gap in Audrain County. Under the proposed plan, Boone Health will manage or lease the hospital facility once constructed, ensuring high-quality, accessible healthcare for residents.
“This is an important next step to secure a hospital operator to deliver health care for generations to come. We have many details to work through over the next several months, but we have a great partner in Boone Health in evaluating the feasibility of this project,” said Bruce Slagle, city manager of the city of Mexico.
With the LOI signed, the next step is for all parties to engage in further discussions and evaluate the clinical, financial, and regulatory aspects of the proposed hospital. The goal is to finalize a management or lease agreement in the coming months after completing additional due diligence. The proposed facility will be designed to meet the specific needs of Mexico, Mo., and surrounding areas, with a focus on emergency services and other critical healthcare functions.
“We look forward to the potential of partnering with the Audrain County municipalities to bring a vital resource to the region. Access to quality emergency care can save lives, and we are committed to making this project a reality,” said Brady Dubois, president and CEO of Boone Health.
The project is subject to ongoing feasibility assessments, and the next steps will involve securing funding and finalizing project plans. The LOI is a non-binding agreement that allows both Boone Health and the municipalities to continue negotiations with the goal of reaching a definitive agreement.
A Rose for Organ & Tissue Donors
Boone Health contributed a special rose vial that was added to the Donate Life Float at the 2025 Rose Parade in Pasadena, California in January 2025. All Rose Parade Floats must be completely covered with flowers or other natural materials. In 2024, the Donate Life Float required over 24,000 flowers, including 2,000 individually dedicated roses. For several years, one of those roses has come from Boone Health. This year, CEO Brady Dubois added a message, “We will always be grateful for the gift of life. Donors are heroes!”
Donate Life, a national non-profit organization, works closely with Midwest Transplant Network to educate the community on the importance of organ donation and to help patients receive donated organs, eyes and tissues. To learn more about how organ donation can help save and improve lives and how to register as a donor, visit mwtn.org.
Boone Health Expands Robot-Assisted Surgical Program
In October 2024, Boone Health welcomed two da Vinci 5 (DV5) robotic systems, the first of their kind in Missouri. The arrival of the DV5 robotic-assisted surgery systems underscores Boone’s commitment to highquality, cutting-edge care. The state-of-the-art robots offer enhanced precision, visualization and safety for a wide range of surgical procedures.
Boone Health’s providers and staff began specialized training immediately after the systems were delivered to ensure seamless integration into the hospital’s surgical program. The first procedure using the DV5 took place on October 14.
“These systems are a game-changer for both our surgical teams and the patients we serve, offering enhanced precision, reduced recovery times, and better overall outcomes,” says Sara Crowder, MD, Boone Health gynecologic oncologist.
Previously, Boone Health operated two da Vinci surgical robots which were used at a rate of 70% or more during prime operating hours. With three new surgeons trained in robotic-assisted surgery set to join the team and increased demands from current providers, the hospital needed to expand its robotic capacity.
Because Missouri is a Certificate of Need (CON) state, any healthcare project exceeding $1 million must first be approved by the state. The CON process aims to prevent unnecessary duplication of services, maintain high-quality care, and control costs. Boone’s application for the robotic surgery program expansion was a comprehensive 50-page document explaining the need for these advanced surgical systems, outlining the expected benefits, and reviewing the financial impact.
“The Certificate of Need process ensures that we are expanding healthcare services responsibly and with the community’s best interests in mind,” said Sara Rush, Boone Health Surgical and Maternal Child Health director. “We are proud to have earned the state’s approval to enhance our robotic surgery program, which will improve outcomes for our patients and expand access to innovative care across the region.”
The new da Vinci systems will ensure our patients have access to the most advanced technology and the best possible care. This new addition upholds Boone Health’s mission of improving the health of the people and the communities we serve.
Chief Medical Officer Robin Blount Retires
Robin Blount, MD, chief medical officer for Boone Health retired in January 2025. Dr. Blount served Boone Health for 38 years as a member of the medical staff and executive team.
“I am grateful to have been able to provide care to this community for so many years and to have been associated with such an incredible group of physicians and the people who provide care at Boone Health,” she said. “My 38 years with Boone Health and, to have the trust of this community for so long, is truly a gift and an honor.”
Dr. Blount moved to Columbia with her family in 1964. She graduated in 1979 from the University of Missouri with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and from the School of Medicine in 1983. Following additional training in an infectious disease fellowship at MU, Dr. Blount entered private practice at Boone Clinic in Columbia in 1987. In 2015, she was named Boone Hospital’s chief medical officer.
“Dr. Blount has been instrumental in guiding Boone Hospital’s medical staff for the past decade,” said Brady Dubois, Boone Health president and CEO. “We will remain indebted to her commitment to ensuring Boone Hospital met the highest of standards in quality and patient care, including achieving multiple 5-star designations from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services over the last several years. She has a significant amount of respect among her colleagues and will be missed. We wish her the best in her well-deserved retirement.”
Dr. Blount led the hospital and its medical staff through two electronic medical records transitions, the hospital’s transition to independent status, and the challenges of the COVID pandemic.
During Dr. Blount’s tenure as CMO, Boone Hospital achieved 5-star ratings from the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services five times since 2016 when the ratings were first introduced.
In 2024, Boone Hospital also was named a Top 100 hospital in the nation by Healthgrades. Currently, Boone Hospital is the only hospital in the mid-Missouri region to achieve these two designations.
Dr. Blount has also served on the Board of Governors for the MU School of Medicine. In 2020, she was recognized by the Boone County Medical Society as the Distinguished Physician of the Year for her work and leadership during the COVID pandemic.
During her work in private practice, Dr. Blount held multiple leadership positions at Boone Hospital and the former Columbia Regional Hospital, including chair of the Infection Prevention committees and a member of the Medical Executive committees. She served as chief of medicine and secretary treasurer of Boone Hospital’s medical staff.
Dr. Blount has also been an active community member. She served as the physician champion for the Heart of Missouri United Way and the physician at large on the Missouri Hospital Association Board of Governors and led the Missouri Hospital Association Physician Executive Group.
