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On November 5, BJC Healthcare will open the new Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital, replacing the former 50-year-old facility at 12634 Olive in Creve Coeur.

"We will have a much bigger footprint, a much bigger space to be able to provide and enhance comfort," says Yoany Finetti, chief nursing officer and vice president of patient care services at Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital. "We have much more innovative technology that really enables our patient care team and physicians to better care for our patients."

The new 260,000-square-foot facility, located behind the existing hospital, has 64 private rooms, 14 operating rooms, including one robotic operating room, four intensive care unit rooms, five endoscopy suites, and two interventional radiology suites, in addition to waiting areas, a café, and concierge services.

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Dubbed a "hospital of the future," Finetti notes the facility will have "enhanced communication for the patient and care team. It's much more personable," she says. Patients will be able to use iPads at the bedside to communicate with the care team, play games, order meals, and change the TV channel.

Photography courtesy of BJC

Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital handles inpatient and outpatient surgical and medical procedures with shorter lengths of stay. "Whether they need a hip replacement, knee replacement, colonoscopy, plastic surgery," Dr. Lesley K. Rao says, "we're really here to help our community get back to living and get them back to their everyday life."

The former hospital will be demolished and replaced by green space and additional parking. Keeping the campus's foliage and park-like aesthetic, the grounds will include new trees and landscaping, and by 2020, a new health and wellness trail. A 100,000-square-foot medical office building, connected to the hospital, will also open in 2020.

"Barnes-Jewish West County is the most advanced hospital, from a technology perspective, that BJC Healthcare has built," Finetti says. "I think we will be a good blueprint for others to follow."