In St. Charles County, Missouri, SSM Health is expanding their access points, including hospitals and outpatient centers, in order to provide patients with better healthcare options in their own community. This expansion was prompted by the challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic when critically ill patients needed specialized care that could not be easily transferred. Dr. Jack Oak, a vascular surgeon at SSM Health St. Joseph Hospitals in St. Charles, Lake St. Louis, and Wentzville, explained how this realization led to the decision to provide more advanced care within local communities through expanded outpatient care services.
Dr. Oak stated that these expanded services include dialysis access, bypass surgery, and the ability to perform more advanced cases in the future. The goal of this expansion is to provide equitable care to all patients, regardless of medical complexity. As SSM Health continues to grow, they plan to offer more sophisticated procedures at their various locations, bringing high-quality healthcare closer to the communities they serve.
For more information on vascular surgery options and updates on the SSM Health Medical Minute segment airing on STL News 11 and FOX 2 News on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., respectively
