Does Arnold Need a Hospital

When , an affordable senior living apartment complex, opened on May 1 it was fully rented. It has a waitlist of at least 300 people.

Arnold has at least three other senior-living or assisted-living complexes.

The city's population has grown to about 21,000 people according the the 2010 Census results.

And a number of national businesses—Starbucks, Aldi grocery, Five Guys Burger and Fries, and Trek Bicycle Store to name a few—have opened in Arnold within the last year.

When it comes to medical care, however, there are more Walgreens pharmacies in and near Arnold than there are hospitals.

There is an Urgent Care location on Richardson Road, an on Jeffco Boulevard, and an Arnold Family Health Care at Arnold Mall.

St. Anthony's Medical Center in South St. Louis County is about seven miles and a 15 minute drive away from Arnold's borders.

The Jefferson Regional Medical Center is 19 miles and about a 22 minute drive away.

SSM St. Claire, a third hospital, is about 10 miles away in Fenton, MO and is about an 18 minute drive away on Hwy. 141.

So should Arnold focus its political and economic will on getting a real hospital within the city's borders. Or should the residents use the other hospitals in the surrounding cities.

Editor's note: This article has been amened to include a third hospital, SSM St. Claire, that has patients from Arnold.