Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City

Saint Luke's maternity teams are dedicated to ensuring the highest level of quality care for all patients, even our simulated ones.

VICTORIA® and her baby, Super TORY®, are high-fidelity simulation manikins that Saint Luke's teams use to train for their work in labor and delivery, including postpartum and NICU care, so they're always prepared for every possible situation. Controlled remotely by an education specialist, VICTORIA and Super TORY can vocalize, breathe, and display vital signs to provide realistic scenarios.

Simulation in health care education is crucial for improving communication skills, teamwork, and patient outcomes. Innovative clinical education thrives at Saint Luke's thanks to the support of generous donors. Tools like VICTORIA make our institution a beacon of both innovation and hope.

There is an outbreak of tuberculosis in Wyandotte County, but the general public is at low risk. The disease spreads differently than COVID-19 and has slightly different symptoms.

Dr. Ginny Boos, Saint Luke's director of infection prevention, told FOX4 News Kansas City how it spreads and what to do if you have concerning symptoms. Watch now: https://heyor.ca/tAdC46

FOX4: Health Experts Say Not to Panic as Dozens in KCK Treated for Tuberculosis FOX4 talked to Dr. Ginny Boos about the general public's risk of infection as health officials confirm an outbreak in Wyandotte County.

Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute continues its streak of firsts! Dr. Adnan Chhatriwalla recently led a team that performed the first FDA-approved TriClip transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) in Missouri.

TriClip TEER is a minimally invasive option for patients with tricuspid valve regurgitation, which occurs when the leaflets in the heart valve don’t close properly causing the valve to leak. The device holds the leaflets together to restore proper blood flow.

Congratulations to Drs. Adnan Chhatriwalla, Chetan Huded, David Skolnick, and the entire clinical team on another notable accomplishment! 💙

Congratulations to the Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City team for receiving the American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines® Gold Plus recognition, the highest recognition for providing excellent stroke 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.

Last week, Ellie started second grade—but her road to get there wasn't guaranteed. As Saint Luke's youngest ever surviving NICU baby—born at just 21 weeks and 6 days—Ellie's chances of survival were low.

But Saint Luke's ELGAN (Extremely Low Gestational Age Newborn) program was the difference for Ellie. In addition to being one of the first ELGAN programs in the region, the Saint Luke's program's survival rate significantly exceeds the national average. Thanks to the expert care of her NICU team, Ellie persevered. 💪

Recently, Ellie and her family came back to Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City to look back on just how far she has come. Watch Ellie's special reunion with her care team here: https://heyor.ca/F93wn4

Zachary was bitten by a spider while working outside. The wound from the bite allowed bacteria to enter his body, leading to an extremely rare condition that put him in Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City for weeks.

Dr. Andrew Benedict, a surgeon with Saint Luke’s Hospital Trauma and Critical Care Specialists, told KSHB 41 about the rare diagnosis and what the Saint Luke's team did to treat him. Watch the full story: https://heyor.ca/0uRBph

KSHB: Waldo Man's PSA After Life-Threatening Spider Bite KSHB talked to Dr. Andrew Benedict about a flesh-eating bacteria, called necrotizing fasciitis, that put one local man in the hospital after suffering a spider bite.

Saint Luke’s is experiencing intermittent connectivity issues causing outages among some of our IT systems. This is not a cyberattack. You may experience sporadic issues with:

— Accessing mySaintLuke’s, including video visits
— SaintLukeskc.org, including online scheduling
— Longer than normal wait times when calling health system operators

Our IT teams are actively working to restore access to affected systems. Inpatient care and patient appointments are not affected. If you have an appointment with one of our providers today or tomorrow, Aug. 16, please plan to arrive at the normally scheduled time.

Thank you for your understanding and patience as we get our systems back up and running.

Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute was the first in the region to perform a transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement using the newly FDA-approved EVOQUE valve. Ann was the patient.

Ann, 66, was diagnosed with congestive heart failure several years ago due to her tricuspid valve leaking. This led to shortness of breath and swollen knees, affecting her walking.

“My knee was so severe, I was on a walker,” said Ann. “I just kept getting slower and short of breath.”

Ann’s primary care physician referred her to a heart failure specialist at the Heart Institute. They told her how the EVOQUE valve could replace her tricuspid valve without open-heart surgery, a revolutionary procedure in cardiology. She had the procedure in early July and was home two days later.

“I feel better. I’m not quite as tired, I have more energy, and I don’t huff and puff anymore when I get up.”

Ann recently started cardiac rehab and is on pace to have a healthy heart again. She looks forward to walking and doing more activities with her children and grandchildren.

We are delighted Ann is doing well. Congratulations to Drs. Adnan Chhatriwalla, Keith Allen, David Skolnick, Elizabeth Grier, and their clinical teams for performing this successful procedure! 💙

It's Breastfeeding Awareness Month, which means we're celebrating all our International Board Certified Lactation Consultants! 🎉

Lactation consultants provide extraordinary services to new and expectant parents and the health care teams who form their circle of care. From prenatal education and support at the hospital to postpartum support through phone calls and support groups, this group is dedicated to supporting families at every step of their journey.

Thank you for all you do! 💙

Welcome to the Command Center for Saint Luke's Hospital In Your Home!

This room is where health care providers remotely assist patients by answering calls, providing virtual check-ups, monitoring vitals, overseeing medications, and more.

Hospital In Your Home is an innovative, patient-centered program that brings hospital-level care to patients in the comfort of their own homes through in-person and virtual care. Patients are given a technology kit that includes a tablet and phone, which they can use 24/7 to communicate with their care team. In its first two years, the program has cared for nearly 1,300 patients.

Learn more at SaintLukesKC.org/HomeHospital.

Have you had your annual mammogram yet? Women age 40 and older need a mammogram at least once a year to look for early signs of breast cancer. The earlier it's detected, the easier it is to treat.

Saint Luke’s Breast Centers offer nine convenient mammogram locations throughout the greater Kansas City area. You will have access to a unique combination of leading-edge screening technology and fellowship-trained Breast Radiologist specialists, ensuring you’ll receive the highest quality care.

Appointments are recommended and can be scheduled online, via mySaintLuke's patient portal, or by calling 816-932-5350 but walk-ins are welcome at metro locations. Learn more at saintlukeskc.org/mammogram.

You are never too old for sports. Just ask Pam, a 71-year-old Saint Luke's patient. She recently swam for Team USA in the Pan-American Masters Games. 🏊 🏅

Like the Olympics, the Pan-American Masters Games are an international multi-sport event held every four years. This year's games, hosted in Cleveland, were the first in the U.S.

Pam lives with vagal syncope, a heart condition that causes fainting when triggered. She is a patient of Dr. John Lee, a Saint Luke's cardiologist, and manages it well enough that she can still swim competitively.

Pam swam as part of the Amateur Athletic Union in her teens and early twenties where she competed in two national meets. She then coached swimming for many years before going back to competitions. Last year, she competed in the National Senior Games in Pittsburgh and finished in the Top 10.

Congratulations, Pam! Watch the story from KSHB 41 now: https://heyor.ca/Y3BcNe

Neivis arrived in the United States earlier this year with her significant other, 4-year-old daughter, and a baby on the way. She had been diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension a few months into the pregnancy, and her symptoms continued to worsen.

At 27 weeks pregnant, Neivis was admitted to Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City in critical condition.

"I was very scared," said Neivis. "I was worried about all the negative things that you could imagine, and also just thinking about the possibility that I might go into that room, and I wouldn’t be able to come out."

Three weeks after being admitted to the hospital, Neivis gave birth to her son, Ireach. He spent the next 73 days in the NICU.

"I saw him getting better every day—they took care of him really well," said Neivis. "The care that I received here was spectacular. Everybody was really kind."

This July, Neivis and her care team were thrilled to finally celebrate Ireach's NICU graduation.

"Ireach means 'reaching.' I chose the name because he was the goal I was reaching for—I wanted to have a son in my life," said Neivis. "Everything was difficult. But I can see my son, and every time I look at him, I forget about those worries." 👶 🎓

Read their family's story in Dos Mundos Newspaper: https://heyor.ca/7sI5RE

After Shelle gave birth to her first child nearly 40 years ago, she was diagnosed with HELLP Syndrome (Hemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes, and Low Platelets) and spent days recovering in the ICU.

Dr. Tracy Stevens, medical director of Saint Luke's Muriel I. Kauffman Women's Heart Center, says Shelle's case of HELLP contributed to her developing high blood pressure later in life. Today, Shelle manages her blood pressure with support from experts like Dr. Stevens.

Shelle and Dr. Stevens talk with KSHB 41 about why it's important to always monitor your health: https://bit.ly/3SjFwDp

KSHB: Rare Life-Threatening Pregnancy Condition Can Have Serious Health Implications Later in Life HELLP Syndrome is a life-threatening pregnancy complication and women are often completely unaware that it can put them at an increased risk many years later.

🚨 Important Update About the Global IT Outage:

As you might have experienced or seen in the media, a large-scale IT outage has impacted organizations globally overnight, including BJC Health System (BJC HealthCare and Saint Luke’s Health System), affecting access to numerous servers, programs, and computers. This was not a cybersecurity attack.

Our IT teams are actively working to restore access to our core systems and reconnect PCs to our network successfully. Though we are seeing progress, this process will take some time.

If you have an appointment with one of our providers today, Friday, July 19, please plan to arrive at the normally scheduled appointment time. Due to this outage, please be patient as appointments may take longer and wait times may be extended.

Thank you for your understanding and patience as we navigate this developing situation. Our goal is to always provide our communities with the best care possible.

We will continue to share updates as they become available.

Red, white, and BABIES! 👶 🇺🇸

These USA star athletes were BORN READY for the 2024 Summer Olympics. We can't wait to watch these NICU babies bring home the gold for cuteness. 😉

📸: Faces You Love by Helen Ransom

Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute's Vascular Program is the first in the Kansas City metro and the state of Missouri to implant a new medicated, dissolvable vascular stent known as the Esprit BTK System.

The FDA-approved Esprit BTK System is a first-of-its-kind dissolvable stent for people with limb-threatening ischemia below the knee. Dr. Matthew Bunte, Medical Director of Saint Luke's Vascular Program, and Dr. Karthik Vamanan, Surgical Director, performed the first two procedures with their medical teams.

"This new treatment option supports healing while reducing the risk of long-term complications," said Dr. Bunte. "We're excited to be able to offer our patients the latest technological advancements."

Congratulations to the entire vascular clinical team on this milestone! 💙

Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City is proud to be ranked in U.S. News and World Report's 2024–2025 Best Hospitals list as one of the top hospitals in Kansas City and Missouri.

Saint Luke’s Hospital is recognized as a high-performing hospital in a variety of specialties, including cardiology; heart and vascular surgery; gastroenterology and GI surgery; neurology and neurosurgery; and more.

We are incredibly proud of our clinical teams and are thankful for their expertise, compassion, and dedication to excellence.

See the complete list of Saint Luke's honors here: https://bit.ly/3WnZO0U

Saint Luke's Hospital In Your Home is making a significant impact on hospitalizations for adults aged 65 and older, with faster recoveries and reduced readmission rates.

Dr. Jill Huded, a Saint Luke's geriatric medicine specialist, shared how this unique program provides hospital-level care in the comfort of patients' own homes, leading to improved outcomes for this age group worldwide.

Watch the full KCTV5 News Kansas City segment here: https://bit.ly/3xTpARd

Saint Luke's Hospital In Your Home is making a significant impact on hospitalizations for adults aged 65 and older, with faster recoveries and reduced readmission rates.

Dr. Jill Huded, a Saint Luke's geriatric medicine specialist, shared how this unique program provides hospital-level care in the comfort of patients' own homes, leading to improved outcomes for this age group worldwide.

Watch the full KCTV5 News Kansas City segment here: https://bit.ly/3xTpARd

When Rachel became pregnant with her third child in March of 2023, doctors told her she would need more frequent testing than normal to make sure she and her baby remained healthy throughout the pregnancy.

Rachel lives in rural Brookfield, Missouri, about two hours away from Kansas City. Thankfully, instead of having to drive all the way into the city, Rachel was able to see Dr. Ankur Agrawal, an OB-GYN at Hedrick OB-GYN Associates in Chillicothe—just 30 minutes from Rachel's home.

Dr. Agrawal's clinic made it easier for Rachel to get the care she needed locally until it was time to deliver. When Rachel delivered at Saint Luke's North Hospital, Dr. Agrawal was right there with her.

"Saint Luke's had a great plan to care for moms like me. Being able to stay local with Dr. Agrawal saved me a lot of time and money driving to the city," said Rachel. "It was great to be able to stay with the same doctor from beginning to end. I had lots of questions leading up to the delivery, and everyone at Saint Luke's North was so helpful."

Colson was born in November 2023. Once Rachel and Colson were discharged from the hospital, they received their follow-up care close to home. Both mom and baby are doing well. ❤️

1994 was a year of notable events at Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City.

🔹On Valentine's Day, Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute completed its 100th heart transplant.

🔹The hospital's kidney program celebrated its 25th anniversary with more than 650 transplants performed.

🔹Quadruplets were born in the hospital, all in good health.

🔹Saint Luke's Muriel I. Kauffman Women's Heart Center, the first of its kind in the nation, held its grand opening and scheduled 275 appointments in its first three months.

30 years later, our flagship hospital remains the intersection of innovation and hope. 💙

1994 was a year of notable events at Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City:

🔹On Valentine's Day, Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute completed its 100th heart transplant.

🔹The hospital's kidney program celebrated its 25th anniversary with more than 650 transplants performed.

🔹Quadruplets were born in the hospital, all in good health.

🔹Saint Luke's Muriel I. Kauffman Women's Heart Center, the first of its kind in the nation, held its grand opening and scheduled 275 appointments in its first three months.

30 years later, our flagship hospital remains the intersection of innovation and hope. 💙

Last week, Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute became the first in the region to perform a transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement using the FDA-approved EVOQUE valve.

The tricuspid valve is one of four valves in the heart. It opens and closes to ensure blood moves in the right direction. When it doesn't close and seal well, blood flows backward from one chamber to another, leading to heart failure. This condition was often difficult to treat—until now.

The EVOQUE valve replaces the tricuspid valve without open-heart surgery, a revolutionary procedure in cardiology. Drs. Adnan Chhatriwalla, Keith Allen, David Skolnick, and Elizabeth Grier along with their clinical teams, performed the first two tricuspid valve replacements in the region.

Congratulations, ! 💙

Sisters Courtney and Ashley have a lot in common: They are both NICU nurses at Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City. They were both pregnant at the same time.

And they both delivered within 16 hours and 1 minute of each other!

“Going through all of the pregnancy things together and being NICU nurses together is really special,” said Ashley. She delivered her son first on March 25th, at 6 lbs. 6 oz. Just 16 hours and 1 minute later, Courtney delivered her daughter on March 26th at 6 lbs. 4 oz.

“Seeing how close our older daughters are is so fun, and I hope that these two will have a special bond as well,” said Courtney.

Watch their story from KSHB 41: https://bit.ly/3VZIyPz

Sisters Courtney and Ashley have a lot in common: They are both NICU nurses at Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City. They were both pregnant at the same time.

And they both delivered within 16 hours and 1 minute of each other!

“Going through all of the pregnancy things together and being NICU nurses together is really special,” said Ashley. She delivered her son first on March 25th, at 6 lbs. 6 oz. Just 16 hours and 1 minute later, Courtney delivered her daughter on March 26th at 6 lbs. 4 oz.

“Seeing how close our older daughters are is so fun, and I hope that these two will have a special bond as well,” said Courtney.

Watch their story from KSHB 41: https://bit.ly/3VZIyPz

Fred is half the man he was six months ago—in a good way.

By the time he turned 50, Fred was at his heaviest. He had type 2 diabetes and severe sleep apnea.

"I wasn't happy with who I was and knew the first change I needed to make was addressing the weight issue," said Fred.

Fred came to Saint Luke's Center for Surgical Weight Loss in May 2023 and had bariatric surgery with Dr. Michael Arroyo in November. He has lost more than 200 pounds so far.

"It's like being reborn again," he said. "I'm a truck driver. Getting in and out of the truck, climbing the ladder, and walking on uneven surfaces are easier. Before I couldn't move, now I can't stop moving."

Learn more about bariatric surgery: https://bit.ly/3Sq54gw

Fireworks are a fun and exciting way to celebrate the Fourth of July, but they can also be hazardous when used incorrectly. Hospitals frequently see an influx of patients with firework-related injuries at this time of year.

You can keep yourself, your friends, and your family safe by following these tips:

🔹Never allow young children to handle fireworks.
🔹Never use fireworks under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
🔹Never point fireworks at another person, even as a joke.
🔹Never light fireworks indoors.
🔹Never try to re-light malfunctioning fireworks.
🔹Never use illegal fireworks or try to make your own.
🔹Always keep a bucket of water nearby to extinguish fireworks.

Have a happy and safe Fourth of July weekend! 🎆

This spring, Ben celebrated his graduation from Liberty High School. But his earliest graduation happened at Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City.

When Ben was born, he was admitted to the NICU and stayed there for 44 days. After his NICU graduation, his family stayed in touch with his care team.

"Our nurses were all incredible—we adored each and every one of them," said Kristen, Ben's mom. "I continued to volunteer with the March of Dimes Family Support program for several years. It felt good to be able to pay it forward to the current families and support the NICU staff that took such great care of Ben."

Ben plans to attend Pittsburg State University in the fall to complete a program in automotive technology. He is an avid golfer and hopes to continue playing in college. Congratulations, Ben! 🎓

This spring, Ben celebrated his graduation from Liberty High School. But his earliest graduation happened at Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City.

When Ben was born, he was admitted to the NICU and stayed there for 44 days. After his NICU graduation, his family stayed in touch with his care team.

"Our nurses were all incredible—we adored each and every one of them," said Kristen, Ben's mom. "I continued to volunteer with the March of Dimes Family Support program for several years. It felt good to be able to pay it forward to the current families and support the NICU staff that took such great care of Ben."

Ben plans to attend Pittsburg State University in the fall to complete a program in automotive technology. He is an avid golfer and hopes to continue playing in college. Congratulations, Ben! 🎓

Louie Pancakes is a therapy dog who visits Saint Luke's Hospice House weekly as part of the Dogs On Call (DOC) program. He and other four-legged volunteers like him provide patients and families meaningful comfort during difficult times. 🐾

Watch the full KMBC 9 story and find out how you can make your pet a therapy animal: https://bit.ly/45B6JHb

KMBC: Therapy Poodle Brings Comfort to Hospice Patients at Saint Luke's Hospice House Louie Pancake's owner, Frank, and the Community Events Coordinator at Saint Luke’s Hospice House talk with KMBC about the special program.

Introducing the Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City Child Care Center Class of 2024! 🎓

Months of hard work and play paid off when the preschool class received their diplomas in the hospital cafeteria. Just like that, they're off to kindergarten. Congratulations, graduates!

Introducing the Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City Child Care Center Class of 2024! 🎓

Months of hard work and play paid off when the preschool class received their diplomas in the hospital cafeteria. Just like that, they're off to kindergarten. Congratulations, graduates!

Saint Luke's East Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) kept the party going by hosting a reunion of their own over the weekend! 👶🎉

More than 200 guests from Harrisonville, Topeka, and everywhere in between—including four NICU nurses who became NICU moms themselves—enjoyed the hospital's first in-person NICU reunion since 2020.

See more from the party from KCTV5 News Kansas City: https://bit.ly/4eGyRwv

Arch E. Spelman, MD, was a renowned physician and surgeon who inspired an entire community to invest in his dream of bringing a much-needed hospital to the Kansas City Northland.

Dr. Spelman came to Smithville, Missouri, in 1934—a time when the city had no local hospital and was suffering from the Great Depression. He made it his mission to help Smithville and rallied the community to raise $11,000 to build an 11-bed community hospital, which opened in 1938.

The hospital grew and relocated to a prominent hilltop, eventually becoming Saint Luke's North Hospital–Smithville. In 1983, the hospital proposed opening a second location on Barry Road near the busy highway. After lots of work to secure funding, the first hospital in Platte County opened in 1989 and became Saint Luke's North Hospital–Barry Road.

Thank you, Dr. Spelman, for your legacy.