Boone Hospital Center listed among nation's top 100

COLUMBIA — Now is a good time for a checkup.

Boone Hospital Center has been recognized by Thomson Reuters as one of the country's top 100 hospitals.

The Thomson Reuters study, which gathered information from as early as 2004 and as late as 2009, recognized 100 hospitals from around the country that exemplify excellent patient satisfaction.

These 100 hospitals are those that had low rates of mortality and complications along with low readmission indexes while maintaining a high overall hospital performance grade. The study also factors in the "expense per discharge" and the profitability of hospitals.

According to the study's abstract, profitability is "one of the purest measures of a hospital's financial health," which is why it is considered when evaluating each hospital.

Boone Hospital Center President Dan Rothery is excited to see his hospital performing at such a high level, but said he isn't surprised by the listing.

"We demand and expect a lot of ourselves when we come into work," he said. "We don't want to rest on our laurels."

While Rothery is proud of the award, he does not want it to distract from the trials he and the rest of his staff face every day.

"We don't want to lose sight of the award," he said, "but every day is another day."

Boone Hospital Center appears to be gaining steam. It plans to open a new state-of-the-art patient tower in 2011 that should foster continuing improvements in patient care.

Boone is one of four Missouri hospitals to make the Top 100. Missouri Baptist Medical Center in St. Louis, Northeast Regional Medical Center in Kirksville, and Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital in St. Peters were also on the list.