Saint Luke's Health System

Almost one-quarter of American adults live with chronic pain. Thankfully, patients don’t have to depend on opioid medications to treat it. Dr. Tyler Concannon, an interventional pain physician at Saint Luke's Pain Management Clinic, shares helpful insights about the interventions and procedures that treat pain without the need for medication on Health News You Can Use. #PainAwarenessMonth

Julie Quirin, president of Saint Luke’s, BJC Health System’s West Region, has been named one of 50 Missourians You Should Know by Ingram's Magazine! 🎉 Julie was recognized for her exceptional leadership during the integration of Saint Luke’s and BJC HealthCare in 2024, as well as her efforts to improve efficiency, expand patient access across the region, broaden research and innovation capabilities, and facilitate growth. “It’s an honor to be recognized with so many other great leaders, and I am deeply proud of the role Saint Luke’s and BJC have in making Missouri a wonderful place to call home,” said Julie. “The people we care for are more than patients—they are our families, our friends, and our neighbors, and we are committed to helping create the healthiest community possible for them and our team members.” Congratulations, Julie! Read more: https://heyor.ca/TREp4q

The second annual Evidence-Based Showcase invited Saint Luke's nurses to submit individual group projects to advance their careers and improve the quality of their units. A total of 16 presentations were on display. They included research on weighted blankets to ease patient anxiety, a mindfulness program to relieve stress in nurses, and several other innovative projects. These initiatives exemplify our commitment to advancing health care quality and nurturing professional growth.

This year’s Plaza 10K brought together more than 2,000 runners and walkers from 25 states, raising more than $25,000 in support of Saint Luke's Home Care & Hospice. Every dollar raised helps ensure patients receive expert, compassionate care during recovery or at the end of life. Thank you to every donor, fundraiser, participant, sponsor, and volunteer. Whether you gave, ran, or cheered, you played an essential role in making this event a success. Platinum Sponsors - Capital Electric Construction Co., Inc. - JE Dunn Construction - Saint Luke's Hospital Auxiliary Gold Sponsor - John A. Marshall Company Silver Sponsors - Kansas City Life Insurance Company - McCownGordon Construction

Our special guest on Health News You Can Use is Henli, the facility dog at Saint Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute! Nathan, a physical therapist, and Katie, an occupational therapist, are Henli's handlers. They dish on how her unique training helps patients with physical, occupational, and speech therapy. She can paint, play games, and will give you a kiss if you say, “I love you.” Can your dog do that? #RehabAwarenessWeek

BJC Health System is delighted to officially welcome Scott Hawig, CPA, CMA, MBA, as Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer. Scott joined BJC this week, bringing nearly 30 years of health care industry experience, most recently with Froedtert ThedaCare Health, Inc. Scott will serve as a key member of the executive leadership team, helping to oversee the $12B Health System’s continued growth and investment in delivering exceptional care to our patients across Missouri, southern Illinois, eastern Kansas, and the greater Midwest region. Please join us in welcoming Scott to BJC!

Christi Zimmerman, director of Patient Care Services at Saint Luke’s South Hospital, was recently honored by the Kansas Hospital Association with the Heart of Health Care Award! 🏆 With more than 20 years of experience, Christi (back row, third from right) is known as a dedicated, empathetic, and hands-on leader. The Heart of Health Care Award honors professionals like Christi for making significant contributions to the betterment of their hospitals through demonstrating leadership, teamwork, dedication, and perseverance. “We are so grateful to have Christi on our team,” said Julia Woods, Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at Saint Luke’s South Hospital. “She shares her talent and experience to make Saint Luke’s South an extraordinary hospital and is instrumental in lifting up team members and encouraging them to be the best versions of themselves every day. I am sure her example and excellent leadership are part of the reason so many team members have decided to build their careers at Saint Luke’s South.” Congratulations, Christi! 🎉 Read more: https://heyor.ca/fWubRK

Environmental services (EVS) professionals like Josh and Orlando do the essential task of keeping every single room at our hospitals clean and sanitized. They are just two of the hundreds of EVS team members throughout Saint Luke’s who work 24/7 to fight off germs and pathogens. “It just creates a different vibe when you go into the room and it’s clean,” said Orlando. Each Saint Luke’s hospital includes an EVS team that cleans the entire hospital daily, which includes hundreds of patient rooms. Josh and Orlando are part of the EVS department at Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City. Our EVS team members do more than maintain a spotless environment—they build meaningful connections with patients, too. Their friendly visits and care go hand in hand with the exceptional service we strive to provide. "You get a clean room and a friendly person to talk to," said Josh. "It's very satisfying to walk away from the clean room and be like, I did that. It's nice to know that you're helping people stay healthy." Any time you see someone in red scrubs at a Saint Luke's location, it's an EVS team member cleaning to keep everyone safe. Happy #EnvironmentalServicesWeek!

Saint Luke's East Hospital recently welcomed three Missouri state representatives—Bill Irwin, Ron Fowler, and Carolyn Caton—for a tour of the hospital. All three of them are from the Lee's Summit and Blue Springs area. Collaborating with our policymakers helps us continue advancing quality care for our community.

As families recently posted their back-to-school photos and chalkboard signs, we wanted to get in on the action to celebrate the spirit of health care, where learning never stops. Many of our team members have been in health care for years, even decades. From navigating new technology to figuring out life lessons, the learning that happens day in and day out helps shape who we are. Check out some of our longtime team members' colorful responses.