NR531 Case Study Background Information St. Louis Medical Center (SLMC)
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NR531 Case Study Background Information
St. Louis Medical Center (SLMC)
St. Louis Medical Center (SLMC) has proudly served Summerville, Ironridge and the
surrounding communities of Chamberlain County, South Carolina, for over 50 years. The
organization has remained a key component in maintaining the health of the community at
large. SLMC has over 500 physicians, approximately 450 nurses, and is one of the largest
employers of the Chamberlain County area. SLMC takes pride in its ability to remain a
leader in the healthcare industry statewide. The hospital has a continuous commitment to
delivering the highest quality care by addressing crucial issues, such as patient safety,
technology, and expanding services to meet community needs. SLMC has placed special
emphasis on optimizing the quality of life of all those served by expanding beyond the
traditional focus on medical needs to the needs of the whole person.
SLMC has seen a sharp increase in the number of hospital admissions of elderly
patients with heart failure and cardiovascular disease. Specifically, in the last 3 years, SLMC
has had a 10% increase each year in the number of heart failure hospital admissions, of
which, most were readmissions in the same year. Even though there is an increasing trend in
the number of patients 65 years and older with heart failure on a national level, Summerville,
in particular, has had to treat explosive numbers of this vulnerable population.
