Saint Luke's East Hospital

07/29/2025

We are honored to be recognized on U.S. News and World Report's 2025–2026 Best Hospitals list as one of the top hospitals in Kansas City and Missouri.

Saint Luke's East is recognized as a high-performing hospital in 11 procedures and conditions, including heart attack, stroke, knee replacement, prostate cancer surgery, and more.

Thank you to our clinical teams for their expertise, compassion, and dedication to excellence—we are incredibly proud of the care you provide!

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

07/24/2025

💫 “I believe in belief.” 💫

At Saint Luke's East Hospital, we believe in teamwork, healing, and showing up with heart, just like a certain hometown coach. Welcome home, Ted Lasso! ⚽️

07/22/2025

The month of July makes us want to have hot dogs real bad. 🌭 🍔

Our executive leadership team recently invited all hospital staff to enjoy the annual summer cookout. It’s a small gesture to show appreciation for their hard work caring for patients, supporting the community, and making Saint Luke’s East Hospital a special place.

07/21/2025

Alison leads two fulfilling lives: one as a physical therapist at Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City, and another as a longtime volunteer for the Joni and Friends Wheels for the World program, a nonprofit that delivers wheelchairs and mobility equipment to communities around the world, including many without direct access to health care.

One day in 1999, Alison heard a radio ad about Joni Eareckson Tada, a woman who broke her neck in a diving accident and started Joni and Friends to help those with disabilities. Alison was so moved by Joni’s story of strength and resilience that she thought, “Could I be doing more?” She learned more about the organization and volunteered.

“I just happened to be at the right place at the right time to hear that message,” Alison said. “The more I learned, the more I wanted to be a part of it.”

For 25 years now, Alison and her husband Eric have collected wheelchairs and other mobility devices and prepared them for global distribution, including equipment donated by Saint Luke’s. Her skills as a physical therapist come in handy to properly fit the wheelchairs to each person's unique needs and teach others how to use them.

Alison has been on many overseas trips to deliver wheelchairs to people in remote villages who would otherwise have to crawl or be carried. She describes the work as hands-on and humbling.

“You don’t have to be a physical therapist to get involved in something like this,” she said. “If you’ve got a heart to serve, there’s an opportunity for you.”

Read the full story of this physical therapist's calling to give back on a global scale: https://heyor.ca/KGMbb7

07/17/2025

Edward had an accident cleaning a rifle on his farm in Ridgeway, MO, that cost him his eye. Although other hospitals were closer, paramedics took him to Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City for its Level I Trauma Center.

“By God’s grace, I’m making it,” said Edward. “I have powder residue tattooed in my skin, I struggle with depth perception—but I’m here and I’m blessed.”

Edward credits the team at Saint Luke’s Hospital for providing expert care and helping him feel safe and cared for in a moment of crisis. Read the full story of his survival and how he plans to use this incident as an opportunity to educate about gun safety: https://heyor.ca/LNRFyS.

Fi****ms have the power to change lives in an instant. Edward Overstreet carries that truth with him every day.

07/15/2025

Krystin, a radiology supervisor at Saint Luke's South Hospital, donated a total of 60 backpacks to our employee school supply drive, benefitting Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City Crittenton Children's Center! She says she set a personal goal of participating in at least one charitable cause per year, and this year she chose to help kids in need.

"I love giving back to my community," said Krystin. "I reached out to my teacher friends and asked what would have more impact—supplies, or a backpack? They all said backpack."

Krystin's thoughtful gift will help many children in residential and foster care start the school year strong. Thank you, Krystin, for making a difference where it's needed most!

Crittenton Children's Center works to find stable, loving homes for children in need. See a list of year-round needs and donation information now: https://heyor.ca/CubYyK.

07/14/2025

When it's hot outside, your car is even hotter. ☀️ Children are more susceptible to heatstroke than adults, and rolling down the windows or parking in the shade isn't enough to keep them cool.

Courtney and Shellie, certified child passenger safety technicians, share a simple but effective tip with KMBC 9 and KCTV5 News Kansas City to ensure you never leave a child in a hot car: https://heyor.ca/TPpIEj.

Historically, July has seen the highest number of preventable deaths caused by leaving children in hot cars. Here are steps caregivers can take to avoid these tragedies.

07/14/2025

When it's hot outside, your car is even hotter. ☀️ Children are more susceptible to heatstroke than adults, and rolling down the windows or parking in the shade isn't enough to keep them cool.

Courtney and Shellie, certified child passenger safety technicians at Saint Luke's East Hospital, share a simple but effective tip with KMBC 9 and KCTV5 News Kansas City to ensure you never leave a child in a hot car: https://heyor.ca/TPpIEj.

Historically, July has seen the highest number of preventable deaths caused by leaving children in hot cars. Here are steps caregivers can take to avoid these tragedies.

07/11/2025

Before Kansas City hosts next year's World Cup, the potential for extreme heat is prompting concerns about safety for the players and fans in attendance.

Dr. Staci Reintjes, an emergency medicine physician at Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City, has already seen more than a dozen patients this year with heat-related illnesses. She shares her thoughts about the World Cup with FOX4 News Kansas City and how to beat the heat: https://heyor.ca/uOk6HT

The Global Soccer Players Union issued a warning of extreme heat that players could face at World Cup matches next year, including in Kansas City.

07/10/2025

A vacation in Belize became a nightmare for Kelsey when a car accident left her seriously injured.

“My friend and I had been in Belize for a couple of days, and we were looking forward to seeing a new part of the country, but life had other plans."

The hospital in Belize stabilized Kelsey, and she was then airlifted to Texas with a broken collarbone, compressed vertebrae in her spine, and a small cut on her pancreas. She stayed in Texas for several weeks before being cleared to travel home.

One of Kelsey's doctors referred her to Dr. Matthew Wilkinson, an abdominal transplant surgeon at Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City, who explained how the small cut was preventing the two sides of her pancreas from communicating, and recommended the surgery that set her on the path to recovery.

Months after discharge and follow-up appointments, Kelsey is back to her normal life that once seemed so far away. She and her friend are even planning another trip. Read the full story of her international recovery: https://heyor.ca/0IOD3m.

07/09/2025

Christin recently had her third heart surgery since she was a baby—but this one was different.

Christin was born with a congenital heart defect and needed surgeries to repair her pulmonary valves. The first two surgeries were open-heart, which was difficult for her. This time, Dr. Anthony Magalski at Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute offered a minimally invasive approach that changed her life.

Watch the KCTV5 News Kansas City story: https://heyor.ca/fJR7FL

07/09/2025

We're thrilled to celebrate Ravell, a nurse with Saint Luke's Primary Care—Lee's Summit, for receiving the Ambulatory Nurse Rising Star Award from Saint Luke's Physician Group! 🎉

In just a few months, Ravell has become a standout nurse. With warmth, eagerness to learn, and proactive leadership, he's making a lasting impression on patients and teammates alike.

Congratulations, Ravell, on this well-deserved recognition! 💙

07/08/2025

Saint Luke's South Hospital recently hosted Representative Sharice Davids, local health care workers, and law enforcement officials for a roundtable discussion about the ongoing fentanyl overdose crisis, the number one cause of overdose deaths in the U.S.

The group discussed the challenges health care workers face when caring for fentanyl-related overdose patients and how elected officials like Davids can support their work in Congress.

"The fentanyl crisis is a public health emergency—both here in Kansas and across the country—and our health care workers and first responders are on the front lines every day saving lives," said Davids. "Thanks in part to their tireless efforts, we’re finally starting to see a decline in overdose deaths. But even one life lost is one too many. Today’s conversation was eye-opening and reaffirmed my commitment to listening, learning, and fighting for the tools Kansans need to stay safe."

Watch Dr. Jennifer Elliott, chair of Saint Luke's Opioid Stewardship Program and medical director of Saint Luke's Pain Management Clinic, talk to KSHB 41 about the need for more resources for those struggling with pain medication misuse: https://heyor.ca/SRVUCX.

07/07/2025

Caring for our community goes far beyond our hospital walls. Recently, members of our Employee Engagement team volunteered at Harvesters - The Community Food Network to help fight food insecurity in our region.

Giving back is at the heart of who we are—whether it’s supporting patients and families inside our hospital or rolling up our sleeves to serve those in need throughout the community. We’re proud to make a difference together, every day, in every way. 💙

07/07/2025

Dale has always been proactive about his prostate health because of his history of cancer. Both his father and grandfather faced prostate cancer.

Over time, his enlarged prostate began to seriously affect his daily life. “I would be in a 45-minute meeting and have to run to the bathroom once or twice,” he said.

Already under the care of Dr. Tad Wilson at Advanced Urologic Associates, Dale learned about Aquablation therapy, a minimally invasive, state-of-the-art procedure that uses a jet of water to precisely remove excess prostate tissue. He had the surgery in March 2025 and was home the next day.

“This has changed my life,” he said.

Read the story about how Aquablation made all the difference for Dale: https://heyor.ca/IY5xjk

07/04/2025

Fireworks are fun, but injuries are not. Last year, more than 14,000 people in the U.S. went to the Emergency Department on the Fourth of July with fireworks-related injuries.

Dr. Greg Tanquary, an Emergency Department physician at Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City, spoke with FOX4 News Kansas City about common fireworks-related injuries treated in the ER, tips on preventing injury, and extra precautions to take to stay safe over the holiday. Watch now: https://heyor.ca/sUxN6n

Last year, the U.S. saw a 52% jump in fireworks-related injuries compared to 2023. Dr. Greg Tanquary, a Saint Luke's Emergency Department Physician, has tips on staying safe this Independence Day.

07/03/2025

For Karen and her twin boys, Adam and Alex, the Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City NICU reunion was a homecoming for the family—bringing them back to where it all began.

Karen found out during pregnancy that Adam and Alex, now 25, had twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome—a serious condition that occurs in twins sharing a placenta where one twin receives too much blood and nutrients from the other twin. Many born with this condition live with lifelong health challenges.

“We knew the boys would be premature, just didn’t know how premature,” Karen said. “We were just trying to get to 32 weeks.”

At 29 weeks, Adam began having heart problems, and Karen underwent an emergency cesarean section. Adam was born weighing two pounds, and Alex was one pound, seven ounces. They spent a couple weeks together in the Saint Luke's NICU. Adam was transferred to a children's hospital for a procedure, while Alex stayed at Saint Luke's. After months in the NICU the boys went home.

Adam and Alex had a long road ahead of them, and Karen was there to keep pushing forward every step of the way. After over 20 combined surgeries, Adam and Alex could walk unassisted. They graduated high school, and both have part-time jobs.

KSHB 41 spoke with Karen, Adam, and Alex at the recent Saint Luke’s Hospital NICU reunion. See their inspiring story: https://heyor.ca/L2BM6G

07/02/2025

Nursing is a tradition in Leann's family. Her passion for health care was inspired in part by her two aunts and older brother.

“Growing up on a secluded farm in a small Iowa town, I was captivated by the hospital stories my brother shared from his early career,” said Leann. “Out of eight siblings, three of us have had long nursing careers.”

Leann is currently a nurse at Saint Luke’s Community Hospital in Leawood—a full-service Emergency Department with shorter-than-average wait times—but her nursing journey began as a candy striper in high school. After earning her nursing degree, she joined the U.S. Army Nurse Corps for three years.

Over the next several years, Leann worked at 14 hospitals across the country and even spent a year in Germany as a school nurse. She came to Saint Luke’s in 2019, right when the Community Hospitals opened, and returned to her love of personalized bedside nursing.

“Community Hospitals remind me of my hometown hospital. This environment allows me to connect with patients, provide compassionate care, and treat them as I would want to be treated in an emergency. I feel valued at Saint Luke’s.”

Saint Luke’s Community Hospitals provide emergency, inpatient, and diagnostic services, open 24/7. Look for yours in Leawood, Roeland Park, and the Legends: https://heyor.ca/zxbCaG

06/30/2025

With the Plaza 10K only three months away, now is the perfect time to lace up and start training. Register for the Sept. 7 race by July 13 to take advantage of early-bird pricing. 🏃👟

Saint Luke’s Home Care & Hospice is honored to be the beneficiary of funds raised at the Plaza 10K—the largest 10-kilometer race in Kansas and Missouri. The flat course runs along the banks of Brush Creek and winds through the heart of the historic Country Club Plaza.

Register for the race and download your 3-month training guide: https://heyor.ca/u38B3M

06/27/2025

Some people struggle with falling asleep at night. David, on the other hand, was regularly struggling to stay awake during the day because of obstructive sleep apnea.

Whenever he slept, David would repeatedly stop breathing because of a blocked airway. This could lead to serious issues. He tried using a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, but couldn’t tolerate it. Then, Dr. Valerie Wood, a Saint Luke’s otolaryngologist, told him about hypoglossal neurostimulator therapy.

Hypoglossal neurostimulator therapy is a surgical alternative to using a CPAP for sleep apnea. It implants a device that electrically stimulates the tongue and airway muscles to prevent the airway from collapsing during sleep. Users can control it using a remote or a smartphone app. David underwent the procedure and noticed an immediate improvement on the first day it was activated.

See the story from FOX4 News Kansas City about how this device is changing the game for sleep apnea patients: https://heyor.ca/cq0g3L

06/25/2025

Congratulations to Rich Liekweg, BJC Health System CEO, who announced his plans to retire on October 1, 2025, concluding an extraordinary career spanning almost 40 years in health care, the last 16 of which were devoted to BJC.

“It has been an honor to serve and lead our team members these past 16 years as they deliver exceptional care to our patients and communities,” said Rich. “Together, we successfully navigated through unprecedented times in the industry, never losing sight of our singular purpose to improve the health and well-being of the communities we serve. I am deeply proud of our caregivers, the culture we have created, and the values we share that place the patient at the center of all we do.”

BJC is pleased to announce that Nick Barto, current BJC Health System President, will succeed Rich as President and CEO of BJC Health System.

“I am honored to be selected to succeed Rich Liekweg as BJC Health System’s President and CEO,” said Nick. “I look forward to working with our 47,000 team members to build on Rich’s vision that grew BJC into a super-regional health care leader, to continue to provide extraordinary care to the communities we serve, and to position BJC as a mission-oriented academic health care leader for all future generations.”

Read more here: https://heyor.ca/j1yUMR

06/04/2025

Saint Luke’s would like to highlight two of our team members, Zach and Cassie, for their service and contributions to the Missouri Society of Health System Pharmacists (MSHP). Cassie, a pharmacist with Saint Luke’s Population Health, has served as President of the MSHP for the past year. Zach, the pharmacy operations manager at Saint Luke’s East Hospital, was recently elected as her successor and will begin his term in July.

The MSHP aims to strengthen professional relationships within the pharmacy community to achieve optimal health outcomes. It advances pharmacy practice through advocacy, education, and leadership development for pharmacists, technicians, students, and professional colleagues.

We are proud to have Cassie and Zach on our team and thankful for their continued support of our pharmacy professional organizations.

05/28/2025

Before transferring to another Saint Luke’s location, a staff member from our Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) left one final gift: A nomination for Team of the Quarter. That nomination was selected, and it’s easy to see why.

“I wish all of the MICU could go with me,” they wrote. “They are sensitive when someone is in their last moments, supportive of all the families involved, clinical when there is an emergency with excellent quality, and friendly when they work with other departments and staff. This is a close-knit, hardworking group that excels at teamwork and that has become friends beyond coworkers in every way.”

Congratulations to the MICU team, our Team of the Quarter! 💙