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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the 2024 Overall Hospital Quality Star Ratings, which score hospitals in more than 100 quality metrics. CMS evaluates 4,000 hospitals nationwide, including Veterans Administration (VA) medical centers and Department of Defense (DoD) military hospitals.

Overall, fewer than 10% of hospitals reviewed by CMS were awarded five stars in 2024. Five of those were BJC Health System hospitals:

Nikeyia Ingram, 38, who was diagnosed with sickle cell disease (SCD) at just 6 months old, experiences pain nearly every day due to the red blood cell disorder. Most days, she’s able to treat the pain and manage her disease by controlling her stress, staying hydrated and keeping in touch with her medical team. Lately, Ingram has been finding that grief has been affecting her ability to manage her disease. Last year, she lost her 15-year-old, Demetrius Ingram, her only son, in a car accident. The heartache exacerbates her pain.

As annoying — and agonizing — as it can be, pain is a common and important signal from your body. It’s a sign that something needs attention, and, once you’ve given it that attention and the pain lessens, its absence is an indication that you’re healing.

As we move into fall, you might be feeling at the top of your game — you’ve made it a priority to exercise regularly, eat a balanced diet and get stress under control. Last summer, you barely had a sniffle. Plus, you’re one of those people who just doesn’t get sick very often. You might be wondering: Can I skip getting a flu shot?

Pumpkin and pumpkin spice are flavors that are synonymous with the fall season. From the ubiquitous pumpkin spice latte (PSL) to the beloved pumpkin pie, this autumn flavor combo has become a staple in many households. But do you know the many health benefits of pumpkin and pumpkin spice? This article explores those benefits and shows you how to incorporate pumpkin and pumpkin spice into your diet for better health.