Join in the discussion, led here by people from all walks of life who share a desire to make the world of medicine a better place to be, whether you're a patient, a care giver, or just someone who is concerned about the future of health and health care. Remember, this is a discussion, so don't forget to comment.
CEO, BJC HealthCare
Steve Lipstein is president and CEO of BJC HealthCare, one of the largest nonprofit health care organizations in the United States.
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On August 3, Missouri voters will be asked to vote on whether or not federal health care reform should be upheld in the state. Missouri is the first state to hold such a vote, and while there are differences of opinion among attorneys as to what the vote will mean, the St. Louis Business Journal recently published the following commentary by Steven Lipstein, President and CEO of BJC HealthCare.
On August 3, Missouri voters will decide Proposition C, a statewide referendum on whether or not individual citizens of our state should... more >>> |
June 28, 2010
Joan Magruder |
BJC • Editor’s note: This edition’s “A note from Steve” was provided by guest columnist Joan Magruder, president of Missouri Baptist Medical Center. Magruder joined BJC in 2000 as vice president of business development, physician services and alternate care sites, and assumed her role at MBMC in 2006.
Growing up as the youngest of eight children, I spent my entire childhood chasing my seven older brothers around and wanting to be just like them. I attended hundreds of their sporting events and could... more >>> |
June 10, 2010
June Fowler |
In the most recent poll on www.makemedicinebetter.org , visitors are asked how satisfied they are with their hospital. Unfortunately, the choice with the highest number of 'votes' is "Very Dissatisfied." Trying to be optimistic, I added the two "Very Satisfieds" and "Somewhat Satisfieds" together, but still did not beat the "Very Dissatisfied" and "Somewhat Dissatisfied" totals -- which I am sure Angela C. would tell me is the only way to make the comparison statiscally valid. So... more >>> |
| This commentary was originally published in the December 17 edition of the St. Louis American newspaper. ( www.stlamerican.com ). Whether you are celebrating Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, or another holiday, most of us will give gifts during the month of December. We will be bombarded with commercials and advertisements for the trendiest gifts of the season. With so many options for gifts, it’s easy to forget about health during the gift-giving season. But remember, healthful gifts can have long-lasting effects. So instead of ... more >>> |
December 09, 2009
Dr. Donald SuggsPresident and Publisher, The St. Louis American
| The St. Louis American is a weekly newspaper covering issues of interest in the African American community. For more information, visit www.stlamerican.com . I think it is a significant step in the right direction for a major health care system like BJC to initiate an interactive online forum such as this. It is now widely recognized and often stated that to improve health outcomes – to make medicine better – will require input and action from everyone. Much of the focus this year has been on members of Congress... more >>> |
October 29, 2009
Jo Ann EmersonU.S. Representative Jo Ann Emerson, Missouri, 8th District
In Washington, D.C., she is a high-profile leader on agriculture, energy, health care and other issues that disproportionately affect Americans in rural parts of the country.
| Health care reform has gripped the Congress for the better part of the year now, and we are finally getting to the core of this debate: cost. Without an affordable system of health care, we’ll forever have problems with access. As the U.S. Representative from Southern Missouri, I see the challenges posed to patients and providers alike in our health care system every day. However, the proposals on the table in Congress are notable not for what they propose but for what they lack. Because of the raw politicization of the health care d... more >>> |
October 13, 2009
Barry RosenbergExecutive Vice President, Jewish Federation of St. Louis
| With more than 19% of American Jews, aged 65 or older (compared to 13-15% of the general population), the Jewish community has had to pioneer innovations to promote healthy aging in place, as we fulfill the Jewish mandate to honor and care for our mothers and fathers. Our goals are: 1) help seniors age at home – promoting health, quality of life and reducing cost 2) provide an integrated network of services and 3) facilitate easy access to information to help seniors and their caregivers find the services they need and for which they ... more >>> |
October 09, 2009
Marcia BarberChief Executive Officer, Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri
Marcia Barber is the CEO of Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri, serving over 62,000 girl members and nearly 18,000 adult members in St. Louis City and County, along with 27 additional Missouri counties.
| Being healthy and fit starts with developing good habits early on; this serves us throughout our adult lives. Encouraging those habits with children, however, is often a challenge. Learning to eat right, exercise and embrace wellness isn't necessarily a priority for our youth. Research shows that more than 10 percent of children between the ages of 2 and 5 are overweight; double the proportion since 1980, according to The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. The Girl Scout organization has examined the issue of health and... more >>> |
Executive Director of FOCUS St. Louis
| Can we improve our health if we improve our environment? Absolutely. Our environment affects nearly every part of our lives. It is, after all, the air we breathe and the water we drink. It affects what goes into our bodies and how we live our lives. Cleaning up our environment is critical to improving the quality of life in the St. Louis community and helping all of us lead healthier lives. We can all do our part, but governments have the power to make the biggest impact on the state of our environment. They have control over regula... more >>> |
September 08, 2009
Steven LipsteinCEO, BJC HealthCare
Steve Lipstein is president and CEO of BJC HealthCare, one of the largest nonprofit health care organizations in the United States.
| News about the worldwide H1N1 flu outbreak swept the globe faster than the virus. Infectious disease experts within BJC worked closely with local, regional, state and national officials through multiple channels to keep abreast of new developments and ensure our hospitals and our staff are as prepared as they can be for early detection and appropriate treatment of affected patients. The H1N1 outbreak has underscored the importance of emergency planning and preparedness. The BJC Emergency Response Team, formed shortly after the events of Se... more >>> |
September 01, 2009
Kathy OsbornExecutive Director, St. Louis Regional Business Council
Kathy Osborn is executive director of the St. Louis Regional Business Council, a consortium of 100 of the region's largest companies, with a mission to impact business, civic and philanthropic efforts for the betterment of the St. Louis area.
| The health of employees is a priority for any organization, and wellness programs are undoubtedly a core component in controlling health care costs and improving the productivity and morale of employees. Health and wellness programs serve as a gauge of an active community and are very important to both employers and the St. Louis community. At The Regional Business Council, health care is a topic of great importance to all of our businesses and we have provided our members with the necessary tools to implement effective health and wellness ... more >>> |
CEO, BJC HealthCare
Steve Lipstein is president and CEO of BJC HealthCare, one of the largest nonprofit health care organizations in the United States.
| The plight of almost 50 million uninsured fellow citizens in our country, the continually rising costs of health care and the combined impact of both on working families and businesses alike, have landed at the top of President Obama’s legislative agenda. The focus is welcome and overdue, but health care reform is a monumental undertaking that will take years of hard and serious work. As a provider of health care services and the area’s leading employer of health care professionals, we have a vested interest in what changes will... more >>> |
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