Saint Luke's Health System

Congratulations to Nick Barto, president of BJC Health System, for being honored as one of “50 Missourians to Know” by Ingram’s. The list recognizes high-achieving Missourians in business and civic life. Saint Luke's is the West Region of BJC Health System. Read more: https://heyor.ca/UCj4nj

As Advanced Practice Provider (APP) Week comes to a close, we want to take a moment to reflect on the incredible impact our Advanced Practice Providers have on our community. At Saint Luke’s, we are honored to work alongside such talented individuals who are not just advancing health care, but truly making a difference in the lives of others. Your commitment to excellence helps shape the future of patient care, and we couldn’t be more proud to celebrate you. Thank you for all you do, today and every day. #APPWeek #TeamSaintLukes

Sean Nix, trauma medical director at Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City, recalls always having an interest in science. When he was young, one of his favorite gifts was a chemistry set. Having family who worked in health care, he saw firsthand examples of how he could give back. In 1991, while serving in the Marine Corps, Dr. Nix realized that he wanted to help his community through medicine. “I chose trauma surgery because it is a challenge,” Dr. Nix said. “I wanted to, hopefully, help patients through those terrible moments that we see in the field of trauma. I see it as giving them a second chance at life.” This year, Dr. Nix will share his trauma care knowledge at the Stephen R. Hall, MD, Trauma Symposium, where his lecture will focus on trauma survivorship. “It's why we do what we do,” Dr. Nix said. “I’ll speak on the larger outcomes of trauma care in the United States.” The Stephen R. Hall, MD, Trauma Symposium honors the late Dr. Stephen R. Hall, an orthopedic surgeon who passed in a bike accident in 1987. The symposium aims to enhance trauma care knowledge, facilitate regional networking, and share evidence-based practices for trauma patient care. Learn more and register: https://heyor.ca/w3ARmj

The Saint Luke's Cardiovascular Imaging Lab team was honored to receive the Bronze Milestone Award from the International Accreditation Commission (IAC) recognizing 20 years of lab accreditation. This prestigious recognition highlights Saint Luke's unwavering commitment to quality in Nuclear/PET imaging. This achievement was recognized at the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology's Annual Conference in Austin, Texas, further showcasing our dedication to excellence in cardiovascular care. Congratulations to Dr. Timothy Bateman, Dr. Brett Sperry, Tara Lawson, Dr. Randall Thompson, Dr. Erika Hutt and the entire Cardiovascular Imaging Team. #TeamSaintLukes

Saint Luke's advanced practice providers (APPs) Jina and Shannon work to lead best practice efforts across the health system as part of the Saint Luke's APP Council. The Council provides a forum for collaboration and sharing best practices among our APPs. It is comprised of 45 APPs who volunteer to give back to the health system. Jina, the council chair, has more than 25 years of experience caring for patients. "We have been working hard this year on several initiatives to benefit APPs and the greater community," she said. Shannon has been with Saint Luke's for more than 18 years working in anesthesia and critical care. "Saint Luke's embraces the APP workforce and recognizes our contributions," she said. "The supportive environment, work ethic, and dedication make this the best place to give care." #TeamSaintLukes 💙

Every day, Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) go above and beyond to ensure that our patients receive the highest quality care. Their compassion, clinical skill, and unwavering dedication make a profound difference in the lives of those we serve. Whether it's providing critical care, managing complex cases, or offering comfort and support, APPs are at the heart of what we do, and we are so fortunate to have you as part of our team. Thank you for your hard work, your resilience, and your unwavering commitment to excellence. You are a vital part of Saint Luke's, and we are grateful for all that you do. #APPWeek #TeamSaintLukes 💙

Newborns exposed to opioids prior to birth can develop a wide variety of symptoms after delivery. In 2018, Saint Luke's was the first hospital in the Kansas City area to adopt "Eat, Sleep, Console" (ESC)—a groundbreaking approach to caring for infants at risk of developing neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS). ESC prioritizes nonpharmaceutical approaches to care, such as a low-stimulation environment, swaddling, skin-to-skin contact, and breastfeeding. ESC also encourages parental involvement in the care and assessment of their infants. "Prior to the implementation of ESC, babies at risk for NOWS were automatically admitted to the NICU," said Tiffany Wells, a clinical resource nurse at Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City. "Using the ESC approach, babies now stay in the room with their family unless they require medication." According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), studies have shown that newborns cared for with ESC were ready for discharge approximately 6.7 days earlier and 63% less likely to receive medication as part of their treatment. "Even if a newborn is admitted to the NICU, we encourage parents to be present as much as possible, including overnight to help support the baby," said Tiffany. "Since the focus of ESC is on the birth parent being the 'treatment,' we have developed a great network of support which extends beyond the hospital to local treatments centers that specifically support families." Learn more about Eat, Sleep, Console: https://heyor.ca/oy1zS9

Dr. Mikhail Kosiborod, cardiologist at Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute, recently presented new late-breaking data at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress in London, UK. The new study is a pooled analysis of four randomized trials, in which the investigators tested the effects of semaglutide in patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction (the most common type of heart failure). More than 3,700 patients were included in the study. According to the data, semaglutide cut the risk of cardiovascular death or worsening heart failure events by 31%. Results were simultaneously published in The Lancet, one of the world's oldest and most renowned academic journals. “In this pooled analysis of patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction across four randomized trials, semaglutide significantly reduced the risk of cardiovascular death or worsening heart failure," said Dr. Kosiborod. “Collectively, these results provide the most comprehensive evidence to date supporting the potential of semaglutide as an efficacious therapy in patients with this type of heart failure, who currently have few available treatment options”. Read more: https://heyor.ca/eoqL0L

Michelle is a milk preparation technician in the NICU at Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City. Her job is to prepare feedings for NICU babies, including using human donor milk. Saint Luke’s was the first in Kansas City to implement the use of human donor milk in a NICU. Many new parents can't yet produce enough milk to feed their babies at birth, so alternatives are used such as human donor milk. Michelle works with the Human Milk Banking Association of North America to ensure our NICU is fully stocked. The milk she uses undergoes a very rigorous screening process. Human milk is a great source of minerals, proteins, and fat for newborns. It contains many nutrients to support the baby's immune system and brain development, which is especially important for NICU babies. #NICUAwarenessMonth

The 54th Annual Dr. Robert D. Conn Heart Conference will take place at a new location this year: The Cascade Hotel on the Country Club Plaza. Join us Dec. 12 – 13 for innovative research and information from speakers dedicated to improving cardiovascular care. Learn more and register: https://heyor.ca/vevBf8