In St. Louis, Barnes-Jewish Hospital is not just a representative hospital for the city, but also one of the top academic medical centers in the entire Midwest.

It is particularly famous for attracting patients from Missouri as well as Illinois, Kansas, Arkansas, and Kentucky for difficult surgeries and treatment of rare diseases.

Founded in 1902, Jewish Hospital started as a facility for Jewish immigrants who had moved to St. Louis. Over time, it grew into a regional hospital that treats all patients, regardless of religion.

On the other hand, Barnes Hospital was established based on a donation from businessman Robert Barnes and opened in its current location in 1914.

From the beginning, it served as a teaching hospital for Washington University School of Medicine, developing into one of the leading medical education institutions in the United States.

These two hospitals collaborated for a long time before officially merging in 1996 to form the current Barnes-Jewish Hospital.

Today, it is part of BJC HealthCare, one of the largest healthcare systems in the U.S., and also serves as a key teaching hospital for Washington University School of Medicine.

The hospital is also massive. It is the largest hospital in Missouri, employing thousands of doctors and healthcare professionals.

Most of the hospital's medical staff are professors from Washington University School of Medicine, which allows the latest treatment methods and research findings to be quickly applied to patient care.

So, what areas does it excel in? The first is cancer treatment.

The hospital houses the renowned Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center.

This is the only institution in Missouri designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the highest rating.

It is known for conducting various clinical trials and advanced cancer treatments, receiving high praise from across the United States.

The second area is heart disease. Heart surgeries, valve treatments, arrhythmia treatments, and heart transplants are all rated at a world-class level.

It has played a significant role in the development of robotic heart surgeries and various innovative surgical techniques, contributing greatly to the advancement of cardiac surgery in the U.S.

The third area is organ transplantation. It operates a comprehensive organ transplant center capable of performing heart, lung, liver, kidney, pancreas, and bone marrow transplants.

Its lung transplant program is particularly famous and is known for being the hospital that recorded the world's first successful bilateral lung transplant.

Additionally, its neurosurgery, spinal disease, stroke, severe trauma, and rehabilitation medicine departments are also rated among the best in the U.S.

The reason the hospital consistently receives high ratings is due to its research.

Washington University School of Medicine is one of the medical schools in the U.S. that receives the most research funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

With active development of new treatments, drugs, and clinical trials, patients have more opportunities to access the latest medical technologies compared to general hospitals.

The level of nursing care is also noteworthy. Barnes-Jewish Hospital is the first adult hospital in Missouri to receive the 'Magnet Hospital' designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Nursing quality is highly valued in U.S. hospitals, and this certification signifies the highest level of nursing services.

The hospital is located in the Central West End, right next to Forest Park. There are many hotels, restaurants, and pharmacies nearby, making it relatively convenient for families of patients coming from out of town.

With over 100 years of history, this hospital continues to play a central role in leading healthcare in the Midwest.