Visiting the hospital as a patient or a visitor can be stressful. Knowing where to go and what to expect can help. That's why we provide you with as much information upfront as possible.
At Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital, a member of BJC HealthCare, we offer world-class health care that extends beyond the latest amenities and technologies. It begins with a caring staff focused on the overall well-being of our patients and visitors. We strive to ensure that your stay or visit with us is as comfortable and convenient as possible. Our first step is to give you the information you need.
Safety Precautions
Because our top priority is protecting the health and safety of our patients, families and staff, we continue to make significant progress that more closely resemble COVID-19 pre-pandemic times. Our team has extreme gratitude to our patients, families and each other for exercising strict safety measures.
- Masking: Effective March 22, 2023, BJC HealthCare lifted universal masking requirements in our health care environments. Masks will continue to be readily available for those who prefer to continue wearing a mask, and patients who would prefer their providers wear a mask may request that.
- Masking remains required when visiting patients who are positive or suspected positive for COVID-19.
- To reduce transmission, masking is recommended for those who are showing signs or symptoms of respiratory illness and those with a recent known exposure to someone with a respiratory illness.
- Those who prefer to wear masks in BJC facilities are welcome to do so. Respiratory hygiene stations will remain at all facilities.
- BJC may reinstate a broad masking requirement in our health care facilities during surges of respiratory viruses such as influenza. BJC infection prevention and infectious diseases specialists will continue to track case rates in the community and among staff, along with hospitalization rates, to evaluate whether and when masking may need to be reinstated to protect patients, visitors and employees.
- Testing prior to surgery or procedure: All patients who are "up-to-date" with COVID-19 vaccines (received full vaccine series plus booster when eligible) will be exempt from pre-procedural testing prior to their procedure.
- Checking in for your surgery or procedure: We have redesigned our registration process to reduce contact. Enter the hospital through the main entrance and a member from our concierge team will be there to help you.
- Testing or screening prior to an office visit: Clinic staff will guide you through temperature and wellness checks prior to your appointment with your physician or health care provider.
- Checking in for an office visit: If you are coming to one of our medical office buildings and wish to remain in your car and complete most of the registration over the phone, please contact a member of your care team for instructions.
- Payment: We’ll encourage electronic payment when possible. You may also have the ability to do an e-check in to fill out paperwork and pay for your visit on your smartphone or computer as soon as your appointment is scheduled to reduce time inside the office.
- Clean Common Areas: In addition to our normally stringent cleaning protocols, our environmental services team has increased its sanitization protocols around the facility. You may see additional people wiping down handrails, elevator buttons and chairs throughout the day. Hand hygiene stations are positioned throughout the hospital to encourage frequent hand washing.
- Cafeteria: Patient meals continue to be prepared in designated, clean spaces with limited traffic. In our public cafeteria, there have been several changes to reduce the need for staff or visitors to interact with high-touch items. For example, electronic payments are requested in lieu of cash. A member of our food and nutrition team will be happy to serve all the options rather than asking people to self-serve at salad bars or other stations. And, a full array of bottled or canned beverages is available vs. self-serve.
- Patient Rooms: To help protect you the entire time of your stay, our environmental services teams remains focused on CDC protocols to disinfect high-touch areas in patient rooms such as door handles, light switches, and tables. The lounging chairs in patient rooms are made of textiles that are easily cleaned. Traffic in and out of patient rooms is limited to essential staff and visitors. All of our rooms are private rooms, with only one patient per room.
- Team Member Precautions: We emphasize proper hand hygiene and provide the appropriate gowns, gloves, and masks in accordance with CDC guidelines. We encourage our staff to practice social distancing whenever possible in an effort to keep one another safe and ready to care for you. When the job allows, many of our non-clinical employees work from home to limit the traffic through our facilities.
Visitor Information and Guidelines
You’ll find our visiting guidelines, as well as where to stay, eat and purchase gifts and flowers on the Visitor Information page.
- Patients need quiet time to heal. We ask that visitors behave accordingly
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At Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital we strive to provide a positive patient experience and recognize the important role visitors play in the healing process. As part of BJC HealthCare, we follow a standard visitor policy to ensure a consistent experience across BJC’s 14 hospitals, multiple health service organizations and 100+ doctors’ offices. Click here to read BJC’s visitor policy.
Virtual Visitor Program
We want you to stay connected to your loved one though phone calls, FaceTime and other virtual methods. In cases where patients are unable to do so on their own, patients are encouraged to ask a member of their care team to assist with facilitating a virtual visit using Zoom through the BJC Virtual Visitor Program.
Patient Information
Navigating the health care process can be confusing but Barnes-Jewish is here to help you every step of the way. You can find everything you need to know before, during and after your stay on the Patient Information page. Look for:
Find Us
Conveniently located just one mile west of I-270 on Olive Boulevard in Creve Coeur, Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital includes multiple medical office buildings. Convenient and ample surface parking is free of charge, with handicapped-accessible parking at all entrances. You can find all the building locations, addresses, the campus map and parking guide on Location and Directions.
Need Your Medical Records?
Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital and all BJC hospitals, including Washington University physicians, use one patient portal, MyChart. MyChart enables you to securely manage and receive information about your health.
Medical imaging requests and access to other protected health information can be requested using these downloadable forms. If you have trouble, please call 314.273.1966 or 866.273.1966 or contact us for assistance.
Need a Medical Recommendation?
Unfortunately, we are unable to make medical recommendations without you scheduling a visit with a physician. A doctor will need to review your complete medical record and perform a physical exam before making a diagnosis or recommending a treatment plan. To begin that process, please contact your primary care physician or call BJC Physician Referral at 314.542.WEST (9378) or toll-free at 844.212.7743.
Questions and Comments
Contact us by submitting a question or comment or find the number you need in the phone directory for immediate assistance.