Thoughts from Our New Hospital President

Great things are taking place in our BJC hospitals in St. Charles County. And there is more to come.

I chose to join the teams at Barnes Jewish St. Peters and Progress West Hospitals because of the wonderful people here and strong community partnerships. Together, we have the opportunity to foster even healthier families across St. Charles, Lincoln and Warren Counties going forward.

In 2016, our skilled team of health care professionals at Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital and Progress West Hospital cared for 8,000 inpatients, delivered 800 babies and attended to 50,000 people in our emergency departments. This year, we intend to do even more to serve our community by adding additional services to meet your health care needs.

• The expansion of our Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish St. Peters will provide more patients with convenient access to the nation’s top cancer care. 
   
• Construction is also well underway for our new inpatient rehabilitation facility at Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital, which will allow patients a BJC option for rehabilitation and therapy services in St. Peters.
   
• Additionally, we will enhance our Childbirth Center at Progress West Hospital by adding a special care nursery in 2017. This nursery will allow us to provide the best care for premature babies in St. Charles County. 
   
• Outside our hospital walls, we continue to partner with local organizations to develop classes and initiatives to empower people in St. Charles County to make healthy choices.

I am excited to be a part of our great momentum and look forward to serving you in 2017.

Chris Watts was been named president of Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital and Progress West Hospital, effective in early November 2016. Watts joined BJC HealthCare in 2005 and has excelled in a variety of leadership roles at the health care organization over the past decade. 

Watts holds a master’s degree in health administration from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and a bachelor’s degree in health care administration from Truman State University in Kirksville, Mo. He is a graduate of the 2013 Leadership Program of FOCUS St. Louis.