New Plaza West Tower expands WashU Medicine’s advanced, research-driven heart and vascular care
16-story tower at Barnes-Jewish Hospital increases access to life-saving care and state-of-the-art imaging across the region
BJC HealthCareThe new Barnes-Jewish Plaza West Tower lights up the night sky. The 16-story state-of-the-art tower consolidates WashU Medicine’s expertise in advanced heart and vascular care.
For decades, patients with the most complex heart and vascular conditions have turned to WashU Medicine physicians at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. While many who seek care live in the St. Louis region, others travel for hours or cross state lines to find the advanced options they couldn’t get elsewhere.
One of those patients is Christopher Bryant.
After severe heart failure in his 50s landed Bryant in an emergency room near his home in Springfield, Mo., he knew he would need a rare, technically demanding open-heart surgery to correct a congenital heart defect. His local hospitals didn’t offer it. Few in the Midwest do.
So Bryant headed to St. Louis. His doctor referred him to Tsuyoshi Kaneko, MD, the John M. Shoenberg Chair of Cardiovascular Disease and director of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery in the WashU Medicine Culver Department of Surgery. Regarded as one of the most highly skilled cardiac surgeons in the country, Kaneko is one of a handful in the Midwest who can perform the procedure that Bryant needed — one that requires incredible precision and an experienced team.
Once Films“Dr. Kaneko was very open with me about the surgery and the risks,” Bryant said. “I knew I was in the right place.” During the surgery, Kaneko replaced the diseased aortic valve with Bryant’s pulmonary valve, then implanted a pulmonary valve from a donor to complete the repair.
The outcome was life-changing. Today, Bryant walks five miles a day, four to five times a week, and lifts weights to regain strength and build muscle mass. His successful treatment reflects the highly specialized care now available to even more patients with the opening this fall of the new Plaza West Tower at Barnes-Jewish Hospital — the region’s largest inpatient facility dedicated to heart and vascular care.
A new era of heart and vascular care
As a major referral center in the Midwest and the fifth largest hospital in the country, Barnes-Jewish is known for its specialized care and advanced treatment offerings. WashU Medicine physicians lead these efforts, serving as the hospital’s exclusive physician providers and bringing world-renowned expertise and innovative treatments — informed by the latest research discoveries — to the bedside.
“The tower represents the newest chapter in the covenant between our institutions and the people we serve,” said David H. Perlmutter, MD, executive vice chancellor for medical affairs, the Spencer T. and Ann W. Olin Distinguished Professor and the George and Carol Bauer Dean of WashU Medicine. “For years, Barnes-Jewish Hospital has been recognized as one of the nation’s leading hospitals and a vital safety net provider. At Barnes-Jewish we care for patients from all backgrounds, doing what no other hospital in the Midwest can do because of the talent and specialized expertise of WashU Medicine physicians. This new center will make it possible to do even more for patients and families who come to us, from near and far, for truly excellent science-driven care.”
Purposely designed to support advanced care, the 16-story state-of-the-art tower features 224 private inpatient rooms, 56 intensive care rooms and the most specialized imaging available — essential for accurately diagnosing complex cardiovascular conditions. Consolidating care also streamlines collaboration among cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons, vascular surgeons, radiologists, anesthesiologists and nursing teams.
“It’s hard to put into words my excitement for this new facility,” Kaneko said. “The tower features a perfect blend of comfort for our patients and their family members with the most advanced cardiovascular care available. We’re thrilled to bring this extraordinary care to even more patients across the St. Louis region and beyond.”
Patients in the tower come to Barnes-Jewish and WashU Medicine for specialized treatments including complex heart valve repair and replacement; surgical treatments for aortic aneurysms and carotid artery disease; advanced heart failure care; and surgeries to repair congenital heart defects and treat atrial fibrillation, among others. WashU Medicine cardiac surgeons at Barnes-Jewish are the only ones in the region who perform heart transplants.
Better answers and more options
Patients often come to WashU Medicine and Barnes-Jewish Hospital seeking options, expertise and answers, including access to clinical trials evaluating new ways to diagnose and treat disease that aren’t available at most other hospitals. The more than 2,500 open trials led by WashU Medicine physicians offer hope when standard treatments fall short. As the second-largest recipient of research funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) among U.S. medical schools, WashU Medicine drives discoveries that translate into new and better treatment options for patients that are shaping the future of medicine.
“The tower is a testament to the close collaboration between WashU Medicine and BJC, and strengthens our shared mission to advance academic medicine and deliver exceptional care,” said Paul Scheel, MD, CEO of WashU Medicine Physicians and president of WashU Medicine & BJC HealthCare Physician Provider Organization. “It allows our physicians to expand access to highly specialized cardiovascular care for patients across our region, translating innovation into better outcomes for those who most need our care.”
Last year alone, WashU Medicine clinicians had 2.59 million patient visits and provided $252 million in uncompensated care.
In addition to world-class heart and vascular care, the Plaza West Tower offers 32 dedicated suites equipped with the latest imaging technologies — including highly specialized MRI and CT scanners and streamlined interventional radiology suites for minimally invasive, image-guided procedures.
“When patients and families are awaiting results, efficiency matters,” said Pamela K. Woodard, MD, head of the WashU Medicine Department of Radiology and director of WashU Medicine Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology. “Now we have a space designed with cutting-edge imaging technology in mind. That means we can answer more diagnostic questions with fewer exams and less radiation.”
The tower’s expansion of critical care bed space for patients awaiting or recovering from advanced treatments and the expansion of imaging technologies will improve surgical flow and enhance the patient experience.
“The growing demand for critical care requires facilities that are as sophisticated and innovative as the care that we offer,” said John Lynch, MD, group president of BJC HealthCare and president of Barnes-Jewish Hospital. “The enhancements in Plaza West Tower are designed to foster collaboration among caregivers, which ultimately benefits our patients.”
The Plaza West Tower also provides an unparalleled experience for trainees. WashU Medicine and Barnes-Jewish Hospital provide one of the largest residency and fellowship programs in the country, enabling trainees to learn alongside physicians who are leaders in their fields.
Patient-focused design
Numerous touches in the tower create a calming environment to help patients heal. Private patient rooms and seating areas with natural light, art and expansive views of Forest Park; a family lounge/business center; laundry services; and two rooftop gardens help family members during what may be one of the most difficult times of their loved one’s life.
BJC HealthCare“Innovation is not just about new devices or procedures, but about how we care for people in the moments when they need us most,” Kaneko said. “This tower represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and a paradigm shift. By providing compassionate care, breakthrough clinical trials and top-tier learning in one building, we’ve brought multidisciplinary skill and expertise to a whole new level.”
