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Now Open at St. Luke's Hospital: The Albert Pujols Wellness Center for Adults with Down Syndrome

The Center is the first of its kind in Missouri and is located within St. Luke's Desloge Outpatient Center.

CHESTERFIELD, MO, November 18, 2009 - The Albert Pujols Wellness Center for Adults with Down Syndrome at St. Luke's Hospital is now open. The Center began seeing patients November 11 and is currently scheduling appointments.

The Center is the first center of its kind in Missouri and is located within the Mr. and Mrs. Theodore P. Desloge, Jr. Outpatient Center directly across from St. Luke's on the west side of Highway 141.

At the adult Down syndrome Center, patients aged 17 years and older first receive a comprehensive physical. Then, they are referred to individualized wellness services focused on nutrition, exercise, safety and social/emotional well-being throughout the entire Desloge Outpatient Center. Caregiver classes are also available.

"We are pleased to provide convenient access to wellness services that are specifically designed for adults with Down syndrome," said Gary Olson, St. Luke's Hospital president and chief executive officer. "With the support of Albert Pujols, we are committed to improving the quality of life for adults with Down syndrome and their families."

Cardinals baseball player Albert Pujols designated a $70,000 award from the Major League Baseball Players Trust to help open the non-profit center. Pujols is the founder and co-chairperson of the Pujols Family Foundation, which is dedicated to the love, care and development of people with Down syndrome and their families as well as providing assistance to impoverished children and orphans in the Dominican Republic.

"Opening a center like this is something my wife and I had talked about since we started the Pujols Family Foundation, and to now have the opportunity to do so is truly a blessing," said Albert Pujols. "The staff at St. Luke's is one of the best, and we have no doubt this center is going to change a lot of lives."

To schedule an appointment, please call 314-576-2300.

About St. Luke's Hospital:
St. Luke's Hospital, located in Chesterfield, Missouri, is a premier, regional healthcare provider specializing in individualized care. The 493-bed, not-for-profit hospital offers more than 60 specialty areas including cardiovascular care and surgery, cancer care, neurosurgery and neurology, orthopedics, maternity and other women's health, general medicine, outpatient services, pediatrics and comprehensive surgical services.

St. Luke's was the only Missouri hospital recognized in 2007, 2008 and 2009 as a HealthGrades America's 50 Best Hospital ^TM , ranking among the top one percent in the nation based on superior clinical quality. St. Luke's is also the only Missouri hospital to receive the HealthGrades 2009/2010 Women's Health Excellence Award for providing quality healthcare to women.

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