Saint Louis Children's Hospital

Saint Louis Children's Hospital
Name	Saint Louis Children's Hospital
Location	St. Louis
State	Missouri
Country	United States
Type	Children's hospital
Affiliation	Washington University in St. Louis
Beds	389
Founded	1879

Saint Louis Children's Hospital is a pediatric tertiary care center in St. Louis affiliated with Washington University School of Medicine. The hospital serves patients across Missouri, Illinois, and the Midwest and is linked with regional referral centers such as University of Missouri Health Care and Barnes-Jewish Hospital. It participates in national networks including Children's Hospital Association and collaborates with institutions like St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and Johns Hopkins Children's Center.

History

The institution traces origins to 1879 during expansions in St. Louis healthcare that also involved entities like Barnes Hospital and City Hospital. Early leaders included physicians associated with Washington University School of Medicine and surgical innovators from the era of World War I. Growth in the 20th century paralleled developments at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and programs influenced by research at National Institutes of Health and collaborations with Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Key milestones include establishment of neonatal intensive care units similar to models from Harvard Medical School partners, pediatric cardiology programs inspired by work at Texas Children's Hospital, and integration with regional trauma systems influenced by standards from American College of Surgeons. The hospital expanded through capital campaigns backed by philanthropic organizations such as United Way and foundations connected to Missouri Botanical Garden benefactors.

Facilities and Campuses

Main campus operations are co-located near Barnes-Jewish Hospital and the Washington University Medical Center, featuring pediatric wards, intensive care units, and specialty clinics. Satellite facilities extend services into suburban St. Charles County, Jefferson County, Missouri and partner clinics in Belleville, Illinois and Springfield, Missouri. The campus houses facilities for pediatric surgery, neonatal intensive care units modeled after protocols from Children's National Hospital, and outpatient specialty centers comparable to Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. Support infrastructure includes imaging centers with technology like MRI and PET scanners similar to installations at Mayo Clinic, rehabilitation units influenced by Shriners Hospitals for Children practices, and family resource centers reflecting programs at Seattle Children's Hospital.

Clinical Services and Specialties

Clinical services encompass pediatric cardiology with surgical collaborations akin to Cleveland Clinic heart teams; pediatric oncology with protocols comparable to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; neonatology with high-risk obstetrics ties to Barnes-Jewish Hospital maternal-fetal medicine; and pediatric neurology and neurosurgery paralleling programs at Boston Children's Hospital. Other specialties include pediatric transplant services informed by guidelines from United Network for Organ Sharing, pediatric pulmonology working with cystic fibrosis centers like Cincinnati Children's, endocrinology managing diabetes care aligned with Joslin Diabetes Center, and comprehensive emergency medicine affiliated with regional Level I trauma centers. Multidisciplinary clinics mirror collaborative models established at Riley Hospital for Children and Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

Education and Research

As a teaching hospital affiliated with Washington University School of Medicine, it provides residency and fellowship programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education and participates in clinical trials coordinated with the National Institutes of Health and cooperative groups such as the Children's Oncology Group. Research areas include pediatric cardiology, neonatology, oncology, and rare disease studies often in collaboration with investigators at Emory University and University of Chicago Medicine. Educational initiatives involve clerkships, simulation training modeled after Harvard Medical School simulation centers, and continuing medical education events in partnership with professional societies like the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Awards and Recognition

The hospital has received recognition from ranking organizations similar to U.S. News & World Report pediatric hospital lists, quality awards from bodies akin to the The Leapfrog Group, and grants from funders such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for community health projects. Clinical programs have earned accolades comparable to those conferred by the American Heart Association for cardiac care and by oncologic consortia for pediatric cancer outcomes. Institutional honors include philanthropic awards from regional entities like the Saint Louis Gateway Classic organizers and certifications reflecting compliance with standards from the Joint Commission.

Community Programs and Outreach

Community initiatives encompass school-based health partnerships with St. Louis Public Schools, injury prevention campaigns aligned with Safe Kids Worldwide, and nutritional programs working with food security networks such as Feeding America. Outreach includes mobile clinics modeled on services by Kaiser Permanente community efforts, mental health collaborations with organizations like NAMI, and sibling and family support services akin to programs at Ronald McDonald House Charities. Public health collaborations extend to Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and regional emergency preparedness exercises coordinated with Federal Emergency Management Agency guidelines.

Category:Hospitals in St. Louis Category:Children's hospitals in the United States Category:Washington University in St. Louis affiliates