Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City

09/04/2025

Congratulations to Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City for receiving American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines® Gold Plus recognition in stroke and cardiovascular care, the highest recognition for providing exceptional care! 🎉

Get With The Guidelines recognition from the American Heart Association honors hospitals for their work and achievements in improving patient outcomes in cardiovascular and stroke focus areas. The awards recognize hospitals that offer the latest evidence-based treatments while following industry guidelines for patient care.

09/03/2025

Big thanks to Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City. Your generosity makes a difference in our community! 🙌

Un gran agradecimiento a Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas Cityc. ¡Su generosidad marca la diferencia en nuestra comunidad! 🙌

08/27/2025

Ten years ago, doctors estimated Melissa had about three years to live.

In March 2015, Melissa was experiencing severe headaches. On March 25, the pain became overwhelming, and her husband Don called for help. An ambulance took Melissa to Wright Memorial Hospital, and an MRI revealed Melissa had glioblastoma—a serious form of cancer that originates in the brain with a five-year survival rate of about 5%.

Melissa was sent to Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City for emergency surgery, followed by chemo, radiation, and rehab. Ten years later, Melissa, 68, has recovered physically, emotionally, and spiritually—and now greets each day with excitement.

“I wake up smiling, and it carries with me,” Melissa says. “It's in everything you see, every song you hear. It's everywhere.”

In 2023, Melissa began seeing Dr. Samuel Goldlust, a neuro-oncologist, for continuing care.

"Dr. Goldlust is very impressive," Don said. "He took the time to understand our history before entering the room."

Though Melissa has physical limitations and had to relearn to speak, she embraces what her body can manage and cherishes time she once feared she’d lose. Melissa and Don recently saw their son graduate from Kansas State University summa cm laude—another one of those little moments that mean so much.

Melissa and Don saw firsthand how Saint Luke’s stands apart through our dedication to advanced cancer research and treatments. With support from generous donors, we deliver leading-edge care to thousands of patients. 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘂𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲, 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗲: https://heyor.ca/Ji6lOs

08/27/2025

Our Employee of the Quarter for Q2 2025 is Tye, a nursing assistant and a shining example of dedication, compassion, and heroism. Tye is consistently kind, thoughtful, and hardworking. He is a team player, his supportive energy lifts everyone’s spirits, and he steps forward without hesitation to help patients and teammates during critical moments.

Thank you, Tye, for your everyday excellence and extraordinary response in a moment of crisis. 💙

08/26/2025

Shirley is our new recipient of the Saint Luke’s Be Exceptional Every Day (BEE) Award!

Shirley is a nursing assistant in our renal unit. She goes above and beyond for every single patient, and it does not go unnoticed. She treats every patient like family and jumps in to help her coworkers with every task at hand.

Thank you for all you do, Shirley!

08/18/2025

Community Blood Center has declared a blood emergency. The region’s blood supply has dropped to less than a two-day inventory, far below the ideal seven-day supply needed to meet hospital and patient needs.

While all blood types are urgently needed, the shortage is especially severe for types O negative and O positive, which are vital for emergency situations and trauma care. Summer has brought an expected decline in donations, driven by vacations, school breaks, and intense heat waves that have kept donors indoors. Combined with increased trauma cases, the impact on the local blood supply has been severe.

Mobile blood drives are coming soon to Saint Luke's hospital locations. Schedule a donation and find more blood drives near you at savealifenow.org.

08/16/2025

At Saint Luke’s, we’re proud to provide exceptional maternity care to families across the 816—and even prouder to help welcome the newest little ones into the world. 🍼👶

To celebrate 816 Day, newborns received special 816 onesies—a small gift to mark big beginnings in our community.

From Kansas City and beyond, we’re honored to care for families across the metro. 💙

08/14/2025

Recently, there's been a lot of news about mRNA vaccines, which protect against COVID.

Dr. Sarah Boyd, a Saint Luke's infectious disease physician, appeared on KCUR 89.3 to discuss mRNA vaccines, how they work, and the potential impacts of recent funding cuts for medical research. Listen now: https://heyor.ca/FtiBb4

08/13/2025

Always in our health care era.

Fearless choices you make today mean a healthier forever and always. Begin again with healthy habits and speak now if you don't feel all too well. You belong with us at the intersection of innovation and hope.

08/12/2025

Jaylen thought his future as a football player was over after suffering a serious injury in high school. Thanks to Dr. Larry Frevert at Rockhill Orthopaedic Specialists, he is now starting his freshman year of college on a football scholarship!

The summer before his junior year, Jaylen worked hard on his strength and speed to prepare for football season. Then, he was tackled during practice and broke his collarbone.

“It was the most physical pain I’ve ever felt,” said Jaylen. “And then there was the crushing feeling that I would never play football again."

After an initial evaluation at the nearest hospital, Jaylen saw a local orthopedic doctor in Lawrence whose plan was to wait for the injury to heal naturally. Jaylen and his parents wanted a second opinion, and Rockhill was the overwhelming recommendation from friends.

They made the 70-mile drive to Lee’s Summit to see Dr. Larry Frevert, an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist. He confirmed the injury could heal on its own, but it would take a long time and might leave lasting mobility issues. Instead, he offered a surgical solution that provided faster relief and fewer complications.

“Dr. Frevert wanted to see me make a full recovery,” Jaylen said. “He didn’t want me to go back to playing sports with a lifetime of pain or a potential injury. That gave me a lot of peace of mind.”

Dr. Frevert surgically repaired Jaylen’s collarbone. Eight weeks of physical therapy later, Jaylen was back on the field. He is now preparing for his first season at MoWest.

Read how this young athlete got to keep chasing his dreams pain-free: https://heyor.ca/pKarR4

08/11/2025

During one of the most fragile times of their lives, a family with newborn twins in the NICU found comfort in Alex, the twins' occupational therapist. When they needed it most, Alex offered warmth, guidance, and hope. Her kindness and heartfelt care earned her the Saint Luke’s Sunshine Award.

“Alex always greeted us with smiles and took time to focus on our family,” the nominator wrote. “She was a huge steppingstone for our girls and an advocate of their feeding plans. Not only that, she taught us how to help our girls with range of motion. I know she does so much for families, but to us, she was a light in an emotional, long, and enduring journey.”

Thank you, Alex, for being a bright light during the most fragile moments. 💙

08/11/2025

From birthday parties to college, weddings, and now sharing the same hall at Bishop Spencer Place, Carol and Jean's friendship has stood the test of time—nearly 95 years strong! 💙

In celebration of , Carol and Jean shared their story with KMBC 9. Watch their heartwarming story: https://heyor.ca/GXbYCd

08/07/2025

The cardiovascular surgery team at Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City earned extra praise for their incredible teamwork that saved a patient's life.

The team was preparing to operate on a patient when their blood pressure and heart rate dropped rapidly. Anesthesiologist Dr. Brad Kelsheimer and the cardiovascular surgery team immediately responded and worked together to stabilize the patient's condition to ensure their safety before proceeding with the essential procedure. Thanks to their fast actions and collaboration, the patient was able to go home a week later.

Thank you for your outstanding, patient-focused teamwork! 💙

08/06/2025

We would like to recognize and thank two of our teams, Interventional Radiology (top) and the Neurology Intensive Care Unit (bottom), for how they quickly worked together to help prevent what could have been a life-altering outcome for a patient.

After the patient's scheduled radiology procedure, a nurse noticed an usual change in their condition. A rapid response was called right away, after which they rushed the patient to the neurosurgery ICU where the entire team jumped into action. They stabilized the condition before it necessitated surgical intervention.

Thanks to their teamwork, the patient was safely discharged to go home. Great job, everyone! 💙

08/05/2025

Families visiting The Regnier Family Wonderscope Children's Museum of Kansas City were treated to a special cooking demonstration with Grace, a registered dietitian, as part of Saint Luke's "Healthy Plate, Healthy Family" sponsorship. Grace showed them how to use healthy ingredients like sunflower butter, oats, and h**p hearts to make delicious birthday cake energy bites. Look for her next cooking demo at Wonderscope in October!

For adults, Grace teaches healthy recipes in the Food As Medicine Every Day (FAME) program through Saint Luke's Muriel I. Kauffman Women's Heart Center. The next series begins Aug. 12. Learn more: https://heyor.ca/iyucfk

08/05/2025

Families visiting The Regnier Family Wonderscope Children's Museum of Kansas City were treated to a special cooking demonstration with Grace, a registered dietitian, as part of Saint Luke's "Healthy Plate, Healthy Family" sponsorship. Grace showed them how to use healthy ingredients like sunflower butter, oats, and h**p hearts to make delicious birthday cake energy bites. Look for her next cooking demo at Wonderscope in October!

For adults, Grace teaches healthy recipes in the Food As Medicine Every Day (FAME) program through Saint Luke's Muriel I. Kauffman Women's Heart Center. The next series begins Aug. 12. Learn more: https://heyor.ca/iyucfk

08/04/2025

BJC Health System has been recognized by Forbes as one of America’s Best Employers for Women. 🎉

This recognition reflects our continued commitment to fostering an inclusive workplace where women can thrive through leadership development, flexibility, and opportunities to grow.

“At BJC Health System, we believe every team member makes a difference in making BJC a premier place to work,” said Jackie Tischler, chief people officer of BJC Health System. “Women make up a little more than 80% of our BJC workforce, and it’s important they feel empowered to utilize their strengths and skills to care for our patients and serve our communities.”

See the full list: https://heyor.ca/EcuSjD

08/01/2025

When a patient's family takes the time to nominate a caregiver, you know they made a lasting impact. That's exactly what happened with Marissa (center), a nursing assistant in the Progressive Care Unit 3 at Saint Luke's South Hospital. We congratulated her by presenting her with the Saint Luke's Be Exceptional Every Day (BEE) Award!

The patient's loved one described Marissa as “an extraordinary empath” who “loves her patients like family” and serves as a supportive counselor. They praised her work ethic, vast knowledge, and deep understanding of what families go through when a loved one is hospitalized.

“Marissa understands the concerns a family has when their loved one is in the hospital. She is superb!”

Congratulations, Marissa, and thank you for being extraordinary! 💙

07/31/2025

Saint Luke's is bringing the Food As Medicine Every Day (FAME) program to The Regnier Family Wonderscope Children's Museum of Kansas City tomorrow, Aug. 1. You and the kids can come for a family-friendly cooking session with Grace, a registered dietitian, while learning more about nutrition. 🍎 🌽 🥕

Grace is hosting two cooking sessions at 10 and 11:15 a.m. for all museum attendees. Before you go, get a taste of it from her appearance on My KC LIVE:

Saint Luke’s is bringing its Food As Medicine Everyday (FAME) program to The Regnier Family Wonderscope Children's Museum of Kansas City for hands-on learning.

07/31/2025

Our new four-legged therapist at Saint Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute is making an immediate impact on patient care this year. Henli, the facility dog, assists with physical, occupational, and speech therapy in her own special canine way. Patients love her, and she motivates them to work even harder. 🐾 💙

Watch Henli’s TV debut on KSHB 41: https://heyor.ca/0CgSUO

07/30/2025

Motivated by the stories and ideas shared during Community Health Improvement Week, the team at Saint Luke’s Primary Care–Shoal Creek gathered nearly 100 pounds of food during a drive to support Harvesters - The Community Food Network.

Community Health Improvement Week takes place in June and serves to highlight the importance of addressing social drivers of health. Harvesters is one of Saint Luke’s social impact initiative organizations that provides meals to families facing food insecurity across the region.

“Our team was proud to collect 93 pounds of non-perishable food donations,” says Krista, Shoal Creek clinical supervisor. “I admire their dedication to caring for our community both inside and outside the clinic walls.”

From food insecurity and housing challenges to lack of transportation or community support, social drivers of health are barriers that directly affect patient well-being. Saint Luke’s collaborates with trusted organizations like Harvesters to strengthen our social impact and help patients and community members navigate challenges that extend beyond clinical care.

“Through these collaborations, we’re working to empower patients to achieve better outcomes,” says Meredith, Community Health Initiatives program manager. “When we connect patients with food resources, safe housing, or transportation, we’re not just solving short-term problems—we’re building long-term pathways to healthier lives.”

Thank you to the Shoal Creek Primary Care team for supporting our shared mission! 💙

07/29/2025

BJC Health System has received more than 100 recognitions for clinical excellence by U.S. News and World Report, with multiple BJC hospitals ranking among the best in Missouri: Barnes-Jewish Hospital and its physician partners from WashU Medicine Physicians, Missouri Baptist Medical Center, Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City, Saint Luke's East Hospital, and Christian Hospital. Pediatric hospital rankings will be released later this fall—in 2024, St. Louis Children's Hospital ranked nationally in 10 pediatric specialties.

We are incredibly proud of our clinical teams and are thankful for their expertise, compassion, and dedication to excellence. We are honored by this recognition and look forward to continuing to provide exceptional care to our communities across the Midwest.

See the complete list of BJC Health System honors: https://heyor.ca/hxjOQQ