Saint Luke's Health System

The 26th Annual Steven R. Hall, MD, Trauma Symposium offers physicians, nurses, prehospital providers, and others caring for trauma patients an opportunity to learn more about emergency care in the Midwest from some of the leading minds in trauma care. Steven R. Hall, MD, Trauma Symposium Oct. 7 – 9 Margaritaville Lake Resort, Osage Beach, Missouri Learn more and register: https://bit.ly/3zfYHay

Saint Luke's Nurse Residency Program is now accepting applications for Fall 2024 graduates. The program provides BSN and ADN graduates with the training, resources, and support you need to kickstart your career. Learn more and apply today: https://bit.ly/4eX6Twz

Last week, Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute became the first in the region to perform a transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement using the FDA-approved EVOQUE valve. The tricuspid valve is one of four valves in the heart. It opens and closes to ensure that the blood moves in the right direction. When it does not close and seal well, blood flows backward from one chamber to another. When it is severe enough, patients might have symptoms of shortness of breath, fatigue, swelling, and weight loss. This condition was often difficult to treat—until now. The EVOQUE valve replaces the tricuspid valve without open-heart surgery, a revolutionary procedure in cardiology. Drs. Adnan Chhatriwalla, Keith Allen, David Skolnick, and Elizabeth Grier, along with their clinical team, performed the first two tricuspid valve replacements in the region. “Often referred to as the ‘forgotten valve,' we had limited treatment options for tricuspid valve disease," said Dr. Chhatriwalla. "As of today, Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute Valve Center of Excellence is the only program in the region to offer comprehensive valve disease care, including surgical therapies and transcatheter therapies, and that is hopeful for all our patients." Tricuspid valve intervention offers our patients new hope and is the next milestone in the treatment of valve disease. Led by Dr. Adnan Chhatriwalla, Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute Valve Center of Excellence is the region’s leader in the field of transcatheter heart valve intervention. In 2008, we performed the first transcatheter aortic valve replacement procedure in Kansas City. Through clinical trials and research, we helped establish this life-saving therapy as the new standard of care. A few years later we participated in the next landmark clinic trial, one that brought a transcatheter-based option for patients with a leaky mitral valve. Way to go, #TeamSaintLukes! 💙

Are you interested in exploring the world of pharmacy? Sign up for Saint Luke's Pharmacy Observer Program and get a firsthand look at the daily life of a pharmacist. Gain valuable insights, knowledge, and experience in the field of health care with this unique opportunity. Don't miss out on this chance to shadow a pharmacist—learn more and sign up today: https://bit.ly/45yfzVT

Saint Luke's Cancer Institute is expanding in the Northland! A comprehensive cancer program will open at Saint Luke's North Hospital next spring, offering additional cancer care services close to home. Learn more from Dr. Timothy Pluard, medical director of Saint Luke's Cancer Institute, on Health News You Can Use. #SaintLukesHealthNews

Semaglutide, the first weight loss drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, improves symptoms in both men and women who present with heart failure. When it comes to weight loss, however, the drug appears to benefit women much more than men according to a new study from Dr. Mikhail Kosiborod, Vice President of Research at Saint Luke's Health System. Dr. Kosiborod recently presented the new research at the American Diabetes Association’s 2024 Scientific Sessions. Read more: https://bit.ly/3RHPXQU

New treatments for Alzheimer's disease and a newly available blood test are giving more hope to those living with the disease. 7 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer’s, and that number is expected to double by 2060. Dr. Megan Baumgardner, Saint Luke’s medical director of cognitive neurology, talks about these new treatments and the simple things you can do to help prevent Alzheimer’s on Health News You Can Use. #SaintLukesHealthNews #AlzheimersandBrainAwarenessMonth

Saint Luke’s and BJC HealthCare are six months into a merger that established the combined BJC Health System as a regional health care organization serving patients across Missouri, eastern Kansas and southern Illinois. Julie Quirin, President of BJC’s West region, which consists of Saint Luke’s, and Chris Watts, BJC Chief Strategy Officer, spoke with the Kansas City Business Journal about the early days of the integration, the potential benefit they see for patients and the communities they serve, and what the future may hold. Read the full article from Kansas City Business Journal: https://bit.ly/4ekvo6P

Saint Luke's Cancer Institute, a department of Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City, today announced the formation of a new Comprehensive Cancer Program on the campus of Saint Luke's North Hospital. The expansion of Saint Luke’s Cancer Institute will provide the growing Northland community with access to advanced, personalized cancer treatments close to home. “With the Northland’s significant growth over the past decade, the community has a need for easily accessible, comprehensive cancer care.” said Darren Bass, Chief Executive Officer of Saint Luke’s North Region. “With all services provided on one campus, patients will benefit from the full range of Saint Luke’s Cancer Institute’s services and experts without having to travel to multiple locations.” Expected to open in Spring 2025, the Comprehensive Cancer Program will include radiation therapy services and expanded medical oncology and infusion services in the Barry Medical Park Office Building adjacent to the main hospital.

Susie Krug, chief nursing executive for BJC Health System West Region, began her nursing career with Saint Luke’s as a nurse in the Emergency Department in 1999. Early in her career, Susie took part in Saint Luke’s Career Advancement Program for Nurses (CAP), where she discovered a passion for process and protocol improvement. She also took advantage of Saint Luke's tuition reimbursement to obtain her master's degree, which opened even more opportunities for her. Over more than two decades, Susie has steadily grown and added to her Saint Luke's career, culminating in her recent promotion to chief nursing executive earlier this year. “I love working at Saint Luke’s because we are authentic in our care,” Susie said. “Saint Luke’s produces the best nurses, and its success is a sum of each one of them. We see this repeatedly day in and day out.” Saint Luke’s offers many opportunities to advance your nursing career. Find out what opportunities are available to you: https://bit.ly/3V6bEfO #TeamSaintLukes 💙