Saint Francis Healthcare System is closely monitoring the outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19) and we have implemented a number of measures to detect and respond to this public health threat. Visit our COVID-19 page for more information.
Pregnant women should not smoke. They also should not expose their developing baby to the smoke of others.
The chemicals in secondhand smoke have been linked to an increased risk in low birth weight, stillbirth and other birth defects. The harmful consequences of secondhand smoke continue even... Read more
Can probiotics relieve your intestinal distress? According to some studies, they can – but check with your physician first.
What are probiotics exactly? “In simple words, probiotics are beneficial bacteria or yeast,” says Wilson P. Pais, MD, MBA, FACP, FRCP, gastroenterologist at Saint Francis Medical Center. “They... Read more
With three great weight-loss options to choose from at Saint Francis Medical Center, what have you got to lose? From exercise at Fitness Plus, to diets with The Healthy Weigh, all the way to bariatric surgery with Weight Loss Solutions, any or all of these programs... Read more
Got your bell rung? Seeing stars? If you’re an athlete, use your head. If you have a concussion – or even if you think you might – leave the game, see a doctor and don’t return until you recover. The health of your brain depends on... Read more
Pinkeye can be very contagious. It can be bacterial, viral or allergic. Stop the spread by not touching or rubbing your eyes and by washing your hands often.
What else can you do to stop it from spreading? Do not share towels and use a clean towel... Read more
Alzheimer’s disease is a disorienting experience for patients and their families – and it can also be dangerous. The patient’s forgetfulness, confusion and memory loss can lead to becoming lost or being taken advantage of. Also, the patient may become unable to perform everyday tasks and... Read more
The trend is clear: childhood obesity is on the rise. So what can children – and their concerned parents – do to buck the trend? “Just as there are multiple causes for the alarming rise in childhood obesity, there are multiple things parents can do to... Read more
Is Weight Loss Solutions, Saint Francis Medical Center’s bariatric surgery center, the right solution for you?
“Bariatric surgery is by no means an ‘easy solution’ to a weight problem,” says Ryan A. LeGrand, MD, bariatric and general surgeon at Saint Francis. “You need to meet both physical... Read more
There’s a new approach to revising old joints. For patients whose surgically replaced knees or hips are worn out and in need of repair, the anterior (front) approach to hip revision surgery is a fast, safe and minimally invasive option to get them back on their... Read more
Pregnancy brings many changes and for women who are diagnosed with gestational diabetes more attention to diet and activity are needed. Some patients will even require pills or insulin to control the glucoses. Like other types of diabetes, gestational diabetes is on the rise – and... Read more
David Wibbenmeyer, 49, should have been more frightened by the blood in his stool than the idea of a colonoscopy. Blood in the stool is a warning sign of colon cancer, and colonoscopies are a relatively painless way to screen for this deadly disease. Yet Wibbenmeyer,... Read more
If you suspect you might have sleep problems, a home sleep study could be an option for you. In addition to offering sleep studies in a sleep lab, Saint Francis Medical Center’s Sleep Disorders Center provides an at-home option for patients who cannot have an in-lab... Read more
Mother’s Day is right around the corner. This year, give your mother the gift of health. Make her a nutritious meal, get some exercise together and be sure to tell her how much you love her. Her heart will appreciate it.
“Show your appreciation; tell her what... Read more
The treatment of hyperparathyroidism – a disease in which overactive parathyroid glands result in irregular calcium levels – has come a long way in the past couple decades, says D. Curtis Coonce, MD, FACS, otolaryngologist at Saint Francis Medical Center.
“Hyperparathyroidism can have significant clinical effects, including... Read more
One hundred pounds lighter. One hundred percent happier.That’s how Adam Halter feels four months after his Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery at Saint Francis Medical Center’s Weight Loss Solutions.
“I have an incredible confidence level now,” says Halter. “I’ve always loved to work out, and now that I’m... Read more
Recovering from a joint replacement surgery is not a one-person job.
“The most important aspect of a patient’s recovery is their support system – their family, friends and coaches that are going to be in the hospital with them,” says Patrick R. Knight, MD, orthopedic surgeon at Saint... Read more
Injure your head, injure your brain? “The majority of neurological trauma is caused by head-related injuries,” says Brandon J. Scott, DO, neurosurgeon at Saint Francis Medical Center. “The most common cause of head trauma is falls, especially in the elderly population. Other causes are motor-vehicle accidents,... Read more
Stress can cause a stomachache, and an even more serious condition called gastritis. If your bout of indigestion or inflammation lingers for a week or more – or if there is blood in your vomit or feces – you should see a physician to determine if... Read more
Starting today, 70,000 Steps in 7 Days encourages local communities to get up and move by striving for 70,000 Steps in 7 Days from each participant. Centers can use this event as a fundraiser and donate all monies to local programs and scholarship funds in the fight against... Read more
Saint Francis Medical Center has been designated as a Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery® and a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement® by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. Saint Francis is one of only six facilities in Missouri to receive the spine... Read more
Pregnant women should not smoke. They also should not expose their developing baby to the smoke of others.
The chemicals in secondhand smoke have been linked to an increased risk in low birth weight, stillbirth and other birth defects. The harmful consequences of secondhand smoke continue even... Read more
Can probiotics relieve your intestinal distress? According to some studies, they can – but check with your physician first.
What are probiotics exactly? “In simple words, probiotics are beneficial bacteria or yeast,” says Wilson P. Pais, MD, MBA, FACP, FRCP, gastroenterologist at Saint Francis Medical Center. “They... Read more
Got your bell rung? Seeing stars? If you’re an athlete, use your head. If you have a concussion – or even if you think you might – leave the game, see a doctor and don’t return until you recover. The health of your brain depends on... Read more
Pinkeye can be very contagious. It can be bacterial, viral or allergic. Stop the spread by not touching or rubbing your eyes and by washing your hands often.
What else can you do to stop it from spreading? Do not share towels and use a clean towel... Read more
Alzheimer’s disease is a disorienting experience for patients and their families – and it can also be dangerous. The patient’s forgetfulness, confusion and memory loss can lead to becoming lost or being taken advantage of. Also, the patient may become unable to perform everyday tasks and... Read more
Is Weight Loss Solutions, Saint Francis Medical Center’s bariatric surgery center, the right solution for you?
“Bariatric surgery is by no means an ‘easy solution’ to a weight problem,” says Ryan A. LeGrand, MD, bariatric and general surgeon at Saint Francis. “You need to meet both physical... Read more
There’s a new approach to revising old joints. For patients whose surgically replaced knees or hips are worn out and in need of repair, the anterior (front) approach to hip revision surgery is a fast, safe and minimally invasive option to get them back on their... Read more
Pregnancy brings many changes and for women who are diagnosed with gestational diabetes more attention to diet and activity are needed. Some patients will even require pills or insulin to control the glucoses. Like other types of diabetes, gestational diabetes is on the rise – and... Read more
David Wibbenmeyer, 49, should have been more frightened by the blood in his stool than the idea of a colonoscopy. Blood in the stool is a warning sign of colon cancer, and colonoscopies are a relatively painless way to screen for this deadly disease. Yet Wibbenmeyer,... Read more
If you suspect you might have sleep problems, a home sleep study could be an option for you. In addition to offering sleep studies in a sleep lab, Saint Francis Medical Center’s Sleep Disorders Center provides an at-home option for patients who cannot have an in-lab... Read more
Mother’s Day is right around the corner. This year, give your mother the gift of health. Make her a nutritious meal, get some exercise together and be sure to tell her how much you love her. Her heart will appreciate it.
“Show your appreciation; tell her what... Read more
The treatment of hyperparathyroidism – a disease in which overactive parathyroid glands result in irregular calcium levels – has come a long way in the past couple decades, says D. Curtis Coonce, MD, FACS, otolaryngologist at Saint Francis Medical Center.
“Hyperparathyroidism can have significant clinical effects, including... Read more
One hundred pounds lighter. One hundred percent happier.That’s how Adam Halter feels four months after his Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery at Saint Francis Medical Center’s Weight Loss Solutions.
“I have an incredible confidence level now,” says Halter. “I’ve always loved to work out, and now that I’m... Read more
Recovering from a joint replacement surgery is not a one-person job.
“The most important aspect of a patient’s recovery is their support system – their family, friends and coaches that are going to be in the hospital with them,” says Patrick R. Knight, MD, orthopedic surgeon at Saint... Read more
Injure your head, injure your brain? “The majority of neurological trauma is caused by head-related injuries,” says Brandon J. Scott, DO, neurosurgeon at Saint Francis Medical Center. “The most common cause of head trauma is falls, especially in the elderly population. Other causes are motor-vehicle accidents,... Read more
Stress can cause a stomachache, and an even more serious condition called gastritis. If your bout of indigestion or inflammation lingers for a week or more – or if there is blood in your vomit or feces – you should see a physician to determine if... Read more
Saint Francis Medical Center has been designated as a Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery® and a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement® by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. Saint Francis is one of only six facilities in Missouri to receive the spine... Read more
