Serving Community Health Needs

Because of Washington University, the people of the St. Louis region have available health care among the best in the world.

For many years we have had one of the nation's leading schools of medicine. Washington University in St. Louis and its partner hospitals attract extraordinarily able young people as medical students and residents. A number of them have settled here and become medical leaders. In addition, leading scientists and practitioners are recruited to the faculty. The combination of extremely qualified physicians and outstanding hospital facilities guarantees excellent care. Seventy-seven of Washington University's faculty physicians at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and St. Louis Children's Hospital were named in the 2005 edition of America's Top Doctors.

The Washington University Medical Center consists of the School of Medicine, Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis Children’s Hospital, and Central Institute for the Deaf. Barnes-Jewish Hospital and St. Louis Children’s Hospital are members of BJC HealthCare, a regional, nonprofit health care system that provides community-based and academic health care services through 13 hospitals and more than 100 inpatient and ambulatory care sties throughout Missouri and southern Illinois. BJC, in partnership with its physicians, provides a continuum of health care services that include wellness promotion; primary, acute, and ambulatory care; skilled nursing; long-term care; home health care; and hospice.

In addition, the School of Medicine is associated with Christian Hospitals Northeast and Northwest, Metropolitan St. Louis Psychiatric Center, Missouri Baptist Medical Center, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Shriners Hospital for Children, and Parkland Health Center.

Uninsured and Underinsured Medical Care
Care is given not only to those who can afford it because of personal means or insurance. More than $115 million is expended annually through the School of Medicine and the Washington University Medical Center to support uninsured and underinsured patients.

Medical Outreach
The School of Medicine works especially closely in its teaching, research, and community service efforts with the other institutions of the Washington University Medical Center. All these institutions operate more than 33 separate outreach efforts, including wellness programs, preventive care, education, and medical assistance. Each year they reach approximately 100,000 area residents.

Therapy
The School of Medicine's Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Programs assist people, including low-income minority individuals, with cognitive impairments and dementia through activity programs that provide social interaction and cognitive stimulation.