ST. LOUIS – SSM Health and BJC HealthCare have formed a joint venture to build and operate a regional laundry facility that will better meet the health systems’ needs, while bringing economic development and new jobs to under-resourced communities in the city of St. Louis.
The venture, called St. Louis Healthcare Support Services, LLC, will clean 35 million pounds of the health systems’ linens each year, using a 100,000-square-foot leased warehouse that BJC purchased in St. Louis’ Soulard neighborhood.
“As health care systems, we understand the connection between financial stability and general health and well-being,” says Tom Harvieux, BJC vice president and chief supply officer. “We deliberately chose a location that has faced historic under-investment, because we know new business will substantially boost the economy and, by extension, improve health equity in our region.”
SSM Health and BJC will equally fund equipment and construction, utilizing diverse suppliers and contractors, with an aim to open by mid-2025. The facility will create 80 new benefits- eligible jobs with shifts available seven days a week.
“This is a great example of organizations collectively focusing our resources to address the inequities that exist in our communities,” said Michael Gray, system vice president and chief supply chain officer for SSM Health. “We expect the initial construction of this laundry facility and ongoing employee base will draw on businesses and workers from underserved neighborhoods, providing good paying jobs with benefits, which will support individuals and families in living their healthiest lives.”
Both health systems are part of the St. Louis Anchor Action Network, a groundbreaking initiative that combines the resources of healthcare, education, and the public and private sectors to advance racial equity, remove barriers to economic opportunity and create a more inclusive regional community.
Members include large companies and organizations that serve as pillars of the regional economy with sufficient resources to drive change and sustained investment. The Network is focused on 22 ZIP codes across the City of St. Louis and North St. Louis County that have been impacted by more than a century of systemic racial and spatial inequities. The new facility will be located among those ZIP codes, 63104.
SSM Health and BJC HealthCare also have worked closely during the last several years as leaders of the St. Louis Metropolitan Pandemic Task Force. This laundry facility demonstrates a continuation of that commitment to bring equity and prosperity to our community.
About BJC Health System
BJC Health System is one of the largest nonprofit health care organizations in the United States and the largest in the state of Missouri, serving urban, suburban, and rural communities across Missouri, southern Illinois, eastern Kansas, and the greater Midwest region. One of the largest employers in Missouri, BJC operates as BJC HealthCare in its East Region and as Saint Luke’s Health System in its West Region. BJC comprises 24 hospitals and hundreds of clinics and service organizations all committed to providing extraordinary patient care and advancing medical breakthroughs. BJC’s nationally recognized academic hospitals—Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children’s hospitals— are affiliated with Washington University School of Medicine.
About SSM Health
SSM Health is a Catholic, not-for-profit, fully integrated health system dedicated to advancing innovative, sustainable, and compassionate care for patients and communities throughout the Midwest and beyond. The organization’s 40,000 team members and 12,800 providers are committed to fulfilling SSM Health’s Mission: “Through our exceptional health care services, we reveal the healing presence of God.”
With care delivery sites in Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma and Wisconsin, SSM Health includes hospitals, physician offices, outpatient and virtual care services, senior care facilities, comprehensive home care and hospice services, a fully transparent pharmacy benefit company, a health insurance company and an accountable care organization. It is one of the largest employers in every community it serves. For more information, visit ssmhealth.com or find us on Facebook and LinkedIn.