Update

Christian Hospital 2020 strengthens the North County health care landscape

Christian Hospital 2020 (CH2020), the brainchild of hospital president Rick Stevens, was introduced in early 2017 and evolved from his vision of being more than just a medical service provider, but rather an integrated member of the community.

“The role that hospitals play in the community continues to evolve and change,” says Stevens. “We think of hospitals as places to go when we get sick and associate them with illness more than wellness. I envision hospitals as being community hubs – places that facilitate interactions between medical professionals and the community, along with local organizations and resources – to promote health and wellness.”

CH2020 has $60M in expansions, renovations and technology designed to improve the health of the community and revolves around four initiatives: Revitalization, Community, People and Care.

Here is a brief CH2020 progress report. Many projects have been completed, some are in progress, and all will be complete in 2020, as the hospital moves well into the future. Through these efforts, Rick Stevens, Christian Hospital and the combined resources of BJC HealthCare are positively changing things for patients, colleagues and the community.

Revitalization

Christian Hospital’s lobby renovation and expansion was completed last fall, as part of the main tower enhancements. The lobby now includes a new well-appointed community room that hosts a variety of events and meetings. In addition, all of the hospital’s main tower windows have been replaced and upgraded.

New large “Christian Hospital” signage at the top of the main tower also reflects the many impressive changes happening within the hospital, which most notably includes a floor-by-floor conversion to private patient rooms, with the third and ninth floors complete, and the tenth floor in progress.

Twelve of the hospital’s fleet of 22 advanced life support ambulances have been replaced as well in the last two years, as Christian Hospital EMS covers 120-square-miles, with 40,000 calls a year for 911 and transport services, demonstrating the hospital’s commitment to serving and providing quality care in our community.

Other facility improvements include major upgrades to the laboratory, inpatient pharmacy, air handling system and electrical distribution.

Community

Christian Hospital and The Salvation Army partnered last spring to establish Pathway to Health at the Ferguson Community Empowerment Center, as part of a one-million-dollar grant over three years from the Missouri Foundation for Health. Through this program, Christian Hospital is now able to assist families and individuals in Ferguson and surrounding zip codes who are experiencing poverty and barriers to physical wellness.

Christian Hospital was honored last fall with the “Doing the Most Good Award” at The Salvation Army Tree of Lights luncheon in recognition of the much-needed work the hospital is doing out in the community as part of the Pathway to Health program.

The Christian Hospital Foundation funded School Based Health Centers that opened last fall at Hazelwood East and Riverview Gardens high schools. The centers aim to increase access to primary and behavioral health care, improve student attendance and academic achievement, and help students improve their health and wellness. Through the financial support of the Christian Hospital Foundation, CareSTL Health is providing care to students in the health centers.

The Career Resource Center has been at the Siteman Construction site on the Northwest HealthCare campus this school year. Christian Hospital and BJC HealthCare have partnered with Tarlton Corporation to create a community resource at Northwest HealthCare for high school students and community agencies to gain knowledge on career opportunities within these industries.

Construction Forum St. Louis honored Christian, BJC and Tarlton with the Building Tomorrow Award in the Diversity category for the Career Resource Center and its commitment to inclusion.

People

The people who make it all happen on a daily basis include Christian Hospital’s dedicated employees, volunteers, donors and auxilians, expert medical staff, supportive civic leaders and beloved community members. Their collective great work has not gone unnoticed.

Christian Hospital received the St. Louis Regional Chamber’s 2018 Arcus Award for Achievement in Health – their highest honor – in recognition of the hospital’s commitment to ongoing growth, improvement, community outreach and economic opportunity – as part of the CH2020 accomplishments and vision.

Under Stevens’ leadership, physician recruitment is also strong at Christian Hospital, with 44 new providers added to the medical staff since 2016, including a new vascular surgeon, spine surgeon, electrophysiologist and interventional cardiologist.

Care

Christian Hospital opened Convenient Care at Hazelwood in July 2017 – in partnership with the BJC Medical Group – to offer walk-in care with extended hours for patients of all ages – with a co-pay that is often less expensive than urgent cares.

The hospital completed its conversion to the Epic universal electronic medical record in late 2017. This new e-record improves patient safety and better delivery of care, as well as better patient outcomes.

St. Louis Children’s Hospital Pediatricians are at Christian Hospital’s Northwest HealthCare in Florissant, seeing pediatric patients 24/7 in the Northwest ER since July 2017. This is a great enhancement to pediatric emergency care in the North County community.

The new $26.3 million Siteman Cancer Center on the Northwest HealthCare campus is gearing up to begin seeing patients on Nov. 4. There will be a community grand opening at the facility on Oct. 22 from 5-7 p.m. and all are invited to attend. Look for more details to come in the near future.

Siteman will continue seeing patients on the Christian Hospital campus until the new facility opens.