In its first year, the St. Louis Children’s Hospital Specialty Care Center (CSCC) in west St. Louis County recorded more than 75,000 patient visits to Washington University clinics and St. Louis Children’s Hospital (SLCH) service areas. The popularity of the conveniently located site was not a surprise to Julie Bruns, SLCH director of the CSCC, and Kelley Mullen, senior director of clinical operations, Washington University Faculty Practice Plan. What was unexpected, however, was the broad area from which patients were drawn.
“We’ve had patients from approximately 23 states visit physicians and use services at the CSCC,” says Bruns. “We knew this location would be convenient for those living in west and north St. Louis counties. What we’ve found is that its easy access right off the highway makes it convenient, period.”
In addition to providing access to multiple pediatric specialties, the center houses three operating rooms, a procedure room, a laboratory, therapy services, imaging and infusion centers, a Pediatric Acute Wound Service (PAWS) and the Young Athlete Center—a center dedicated to caring for kids of all ages with sports-related injuries. The CSCC’s most recent addition is two primary care pediatric practices.
“The CSCC is the first facility jointly owned by Washington University and Children’s Hospital,” says Mullen. “We’ve worked to operate with a spirit of partnership and collaboration that is proving beneficial to patients, their families, physicians and everyone who works here.”
An example of that cooperation is the daily “huddle” at which representatives from each CSCC department meet to talk about any issues that may be of concern. “There may be staffing challenges of which everyone needs to be aware, or a department running short on linens can procure a supply from another area,” says Bruns. “Our ability to immediately find solutions for potential problems is a great help in ensuring we provide a consistently high standard of patient care.”
That concern for patient care recently resulted in Professional Research Consultants, Inc., a health care market research firm, recognizing a number of CSCC departments as having the highest scores among their peers. “The spirit and culture we are striving to create and sustain at the CSCC has at its heart the world-class care provided by Children’s Hospital and Washington University in a convenient, friendly and efficient atmosphere,” says Bruns.
Radiology/MRI Services at the CSCC
The Children’s Specialty Care Center (CSCC) offers a full spectrum of imaging capabilities, including fluoroscopy, MRI, plain film X-ray and ultrasound. Its 1.5 Tesla Siemens Aera MRI scanner has top-of-the-line applications and technologies for pediatric MR imaging.
“The scanner provides exceptional head-to-toe image quality with fast image acquisition in a child-friendly environment,” says Geetika Khanna, MD, Washington University pediatric radiologist at SLCH. Plain film X-rays and MRI are available between 7:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday–Friday.
Plain film X-rays also are available between 7:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Saturdays. Walk-in patients needing X-rays are welcome anytime during radiology hours. Plans are underway to offer ultrasound on Saturdays as well.
To schedule an imaging appointment at the CSCC, call 314.454.2525.
