SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital – Lake Saint Louis opened the first section of its tower expansion.The opening marks the first step in a process that will expand the hospital and improve access for patients in the growing population of western St. Charles, Warren and Lincoln counties.The project adds 84 beds for a new total of 199 all-private beds in the medical facility.The 35-room fourth floor opened March 13, and was developed for a more modern approach to patient care. It features floor-to-ceiling windows, a private window to the hallway for caregivers to conveniently observe patients, and peaceful family lounges.In addition, the floor has removed centralized nursing stations and placed one outside each patient room, creating a space for each patient’s care team to collaborate with not only each other, but the patient and family.“Our goal is to provide safe and exceptional, personalized care,” said Lisle Wescott, SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital president. “The updates we are making to our campus position us to achieve that goal.”The tower’s third-floor mirrors the fourth and will begin seeing patients in April while a fifth floor will become home to the SSM Health Rehabilitation Hospital in July. A new centralized registration center, housing financial counselor and cashier will open March 27.​Other upgrades include a new, larger lab, pharmacy, endoscopy suite, parking deck, and a new outpatient services center including an outpatient lab, nuclear medicine, neurology and cardiology.SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital - Lake Saint Louis was established in 1986 to meet the expanding health care needs of western St. Charles County.The acute care hospital maintains a state-designated Level III trauma center, a nationally accredited chest pain center and primary stroke center, and is a winner of the Premier QUEST High Performing Hospital Award. It is a member of SSM Health, a Missouri Quality Award winner.The facility offers a broad range of services and programs including SSM Health Cancer Care, SSM Breast Care, SSM Health Orthopedics, SSM Health Women’s Services and a dedicated pediatric emergency department. SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital is the largest provider of health care services in western St. Charles, Warren and Lincoln counties.For more information about SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital, visit www.ssmhealth.com/lakstl.SSMHealth