Building a new heart center in mid-May

Columbia’s Boone Health system is rushing to open its own heart clinic by May 6 after losing a partnership that lasted over ten years. The split affects around 20, 000 patients who will now receive care from a new team of about three dozen doctors, nurses, and technicians hired specifically for the project. Officials are moving patient records and setting up the building at the same time they prepare to start seeing people in less than two weeks.Hospital spokesman Christian Basi said in an email that the biggest challenge isn’t just finding staff—it’s transferring sensitive financial and medical details without errors or leaks. During the breakup, Boone Health accused the outgoing partner of sharing confidential billing numbers and business plans with rival groups. At this point, both sides seem focused on getting services running rather than rehashing old disputes. Health systems split like this usually take months to sort out. Boone Health is doing it in weeks, which raises questions about whether corners might be cut. Around 20, 000 local patients now face either a smooth transition or one filled with confusion if data gets mixed up or if staff aren’t fully trained.