The Healthcare Industry

Although St. Louis is home to a wide variety of sectors that keep the economy in high gear, there is none quite so important to the overall financial picture of the city as the health care industry. While industries that incorporate technology such as an automatic strapping machine are important, they also tend towards mechanical takeovers. Health care continues to be people driven, and thus guarantees highly paid positions for human workers in perpetuity. Let's take a look at some of the highlights of the St. Louis health care industry.

Washington University School of Medicine

The most significant piece of the puzzle that makes up the integrated and formidable health care industry of St. Louis is the Washington University School of Medicine. This institution is not only a training facility, as the name suggests, it is also one of the most important medical research centers in the United States of America. You won't find a lot of people focused on the best way to treat a patient who incurred injuries in a wire cutting accident here. It's more akin to what you might see on an episode of House; real life rarities are tackled by some of the keenest minds in the medical field.

BJC Healthcare

The single largest employer in the city, and one of the largest in Missouri, BJC provides a variety of different administrative and care services for the city. The company owns and operates several hospitals as well as counseling services, home care businesses, and retirement homes.

In addition, the company also puts together and conducts programs that benefit the city as a whole. Workplace safety programs including information on first aid and potentially hazardous workplace materials (such as wastewater management chemicals) are major developments of the company's integration teams.

Barnes Jewish Hospital

The largest hospital in Missouri is also the largest private employer in the city of St. Louis. Almost 10,000 people are employed at this major facility, engaged in everything from properly tying up sling ropes on injuries to food services.

The hospital operates in conjunction with the Washington University School of Medicine, and is thus the most important training ground for new physicians in the country. 921 people can be found receiving their hands on education at the facility each year.

In addition, the Barnes Jewish Hospital oversees the operations of the Siteman Cancer Center. This facility is one of the leading institutions in the entire world as far as cancer research, treatment, prevention, and education are concerned. It is a perfect complement to the Barnes Jewish Hospital's reputation as one of the best medical facilities in the entire USA.

Many more companies and institutions contribute to the health care industry in St. Louis. Obviously, this sector is responsible for a lot of the money that goes into the city's economy each year. However, the medical sector is also responsible for a large variety of spin off businesses, which further contribute to the well being of St. Louis. Whether a person works a metal bender at Boeing or is a CEO at Edward Jones, odds are good that in some way the health care industry of St. Louis has played a role in their lives.