St. Louis (October 3, 2007) – SSM St. Clare Health Center marked a major construction milestone today, with the placement of the final steel beam on the hospital structure.

The beam was placed during a topping out ceremony, a Scandinavian building tradition that dates back to 700 A.D. Builders mount an evergreen from a structural beam for good luck and to bless the structure. The tradition continues today to celebrate an important milestone in the construction process, and to thank the workers who make it possible. The beam included hundreds of signatures of construction workers from Alberici Healthcare Constructors and its subcontractors, SSM St. Joseph Hospital of Kirkwood employees, physicians and volunteers, as well as local dignitaries including Fenton Mayor Dennis Hancock.

“This is an exciting day for all who work for SSM, to see this visionary hospital take shape and to share in the ceremonial topping off of the steel structure. Our excitement stems from what this hospital will mean for the St. Louis region, SSM Health Care and, most importantly, the patients and families we serve,” said Ron Levy, president and CEO of SSM Health Care – St. Louis.

As the first full-service hospital being built in St. Louis County in 30 years, the $236 million SSM St. Clare Health Center is scheduled to open in late 2008 and will serve the growing southwest St. Louis County community. The 154-bed St. Clare Health Center promises to transform the patient experience by building not just a hospital, but an entirely new health center engineered to set new standards in safety, quality and patient care.

“This is a once-in-a-professional lifetime opportunity to set a new standard in health care. That is why it is such an honor be part of the St. Clare Health Center project team that is making this possible,” said Bob Porter, executive VP, strategy & business development of SSM Health Care - St. Louis / SSM St. Clare Health Center project executive.

Sherry Hausmann, president, SSM St. Joseph Hospital of Kirkwood and SSM St. Clare Health Center, said, “The sight of the steel emerging from the ground and giving shape to St. Clare Health Center has been an exciting experience for all of us who will deliver care to the future patients of this health care campus.”

 
Construction workers place the final steel beam on the SSM St. Clare Health Center hospital structure during a Topping Out ceremony, held on Wednesday, Oct. 3.

Hospital of the Future Emerges

SSM St. Clare Health Center is emblematic of how health care design will shape positive patient outcomes in the future. Key features will include:
• Large, all-private rooms with family accommodations that encourage loved ones to stay overnight with patients in comfort
• Decentralized nursing stations that literally bring staff within footsteps and view of patients for optimal safety, service and response
• Easily accessible outpatient services designed for maximum convenience with close-in parking and multiple building entrances
• The highest standards of health care technology designed to improve patient outcomes in safety and healing
• Physician offices on campus, located just footsteps away from the hospital’s imaging, lab and procedure areas
• A healing environment that offers comforting views, lush landscaping with water features and aesthetically pleasing interiors that ultimately benefits patients, families and staff

SSM Health Care - St. Louis announced in 2004 that it would replace SSM St. Joseph Hospital of Kirkwood with a new hospital in southwest St. Louis County. Groundbreaking on the future SSM St. Clare Health Center took place in June 2006.

About SSM Health Care – St. Louis

With eight hospitals, nearly 2,000 staff physicians and 11,000 employees, SSM Health Care-St. Louis is committed to serving the comprehensive health needs of St. Louis area residents.  Sponsored by the Franciscan Sisters of Mary, the health care network includes: SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center; SSM DePaul Health Center; SSM St. Joseph Health Center (St. Charles); SSM St. Joseph Health Center-Wentzville; SSM St. Joseph Hospital West (Lake Saint Louis); SSM St. Joseph Hospital of Kirkwood; SSM St. Mary's Health Center and SSM Rehab. Its parent organization, SSM Health Care, also based in St. Louis owns, operates and manages hospitals and nursing homes in four states: Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin and Oklahoma.

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Contact:
Tom Miller
Communication Manager, SSM Health Care                                        
314/989-2060 (office)                     
314/497-4059 (on site)