While most people experience fewer problems with the fall time change than when “springing forward” in March, any change to your normal sleep routine can be disruptive, says Oscar Schwartz, MD, BJC Medical Group sleep disorder specialist and medical director of the Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital Sleep Disorder/EEG Center. Inadequate sleep is associated with memory decline, difficulty in concentration, decreases in mental and physical performance, mood swings, irritability, depression, stress, high blood pressure, weight gain and automobile accidents. It’s also associated with a host of other health problems, including heart disease, stroke, and dementia.

Nov. 4 marks the start of Drowsy Driving Prevention Week. Sponsored by the National Sleep Foundation, the week seeks to raise public awareness about drowsy driving, its effect on drivers and how it can be avoided. Ultimately, the goal is to decrease drowsy driving and make America’s roads safer. The Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital Sleep Center offers tips to avoid drowsy driving.

The Patterson family, including two sisters who work for BJC HealthCare hospitals Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital and Christian Hospital, return to television for "Family Feud Hall of Fame Week." The Patterson family was among ten families selected to compete in the "Hall of Fame" series. Selection was based on ratings from initial "Family Feud" appearances. The Patterson family's Family Feud appearance had gone vital on social media in 2016.

Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital has received a 2018 Vizient Bernard A. Birnbaum, MD, Quality Leadership Award. The award recognizes Barnes-Jewish West County as a top performing hospital demonstrating superior quality and safety performance as measured by the Vizient Quality and Accountability Study, which has been conducted annually since 2005. The award was presented on Oct. 4 during the 2018 Vizient Connections Summit held in Las Vegas.

When a patient decides to have joint replacement surgery — knees or hips — Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital and Washington University physicians work together to ensure patients have a plan that will lead to successful recovery.

Lisa Phillipson will tell you that her story is not exceptional, but that’s exactly why she wants to share it. At 56 years old, the Southern Illinois resident is not much different than a lot of women her age who find themselves suffering from arthritis in their knees and are looking for relief.

Laura Ostrander’s journey to a healthier life has had peaks and valleys. But the human resources coordinator recently reached a new summit when she was able to climb a Colorado mountain, something she could not have done three years ago. Ostrander has lost 50 pounds since committing to a healthier life and is the 2018 Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital’s Health Hall of Fame winner.

Tina Wright has a lot going on in her life. She’s a wife, mom of a teenage daughter, registered medical assistant and in nursing school to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse in the neurology field. So, the Delta, Mo., resident knew she could no longer live with the chronic neck pain that had been bothering her for years.

May is asthma and allergy awareness month. Asthma is a chronic lifelong disease affecting the lungs. Asthma cannot be cured, but asthma sufferers can take steps to manage their asthma with Five Tips from The Clinical Research Center at Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital.

Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital celebrated the “topping out” of structural steel on the 260,000 square foot replacement hospital and the adjoining 100,000 square foot medical office building March 1.