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Nothing against Edwardsville. We once had a wonderful dinner there after visiting Cahokia. Strange policy there. No cash or credit cards accepted but check were accepted. I think I'd trust cash before checks. No matter. Food was outstandingly good.

Anyway, trip is too long and involved for a dental appointment. IMO

Lafayette Square is fine. Just haven't been there yet. Have heard a lot about it.

If you are a medical student, Washington University is definitely a more prestigious school than any of the med schools in KC. Might not be the best school for a particular, individual student for any one of a number of reasons, but it is certainly a reputable and well-known institution. Better school doesn't necessarily equal better doctors, and the presence of a single better university medical school certainly doesn't equate to better healthcare in a given place. If you are a layperson, I would guess there is minimal if any difference between healthcare in KC or StL. Both are medium sized cities with multiple hospitals, specialty care centers, academic research institutions, children's hospitals, burn centers, national cancer institutes, etc.

There may well be forms of specialty treatment or care that one has and the other does not, but barring some unforeseen illness that necessitates some particular specialty care, neither city will provide you with a distinct or important advantage in access to healthcare.

I am remembering a friend (in KC) who needed surgery. She went over to Barnes in St Louis because she felt safer with them. Later, I had the same surgery at St Luke's in KC. We both came out fine. :-)

That said, I agree about Washington University. As a matter of fact, the doctor that I had for years in K. C. - one of the very best I ever had - actually took his training at Washington University in St Louis. There's something to be said there.

Isn't there a medical school at K. U., just across state line? There was also a small osteopathic university in K. C. I've a friend whose son graduated from there. Other than that and the dental school, I do not recall any other. St Luke's was called a "teaching hospital" but I don't think there was an actual medical school there. Perhaps only where graduates did their internship. Not sure about that.

Besides Washington University in St Louis, there is St Louis University medical school. I did not even know until a month ago that that one existed. I read yesterday that it is a private school - whatever that means. Other than that, I do not know what exists. I do know there is an over-abundance of hospitals here. No problem finding a hospital.

By the way, I wasn't meaning are the doctors better or worse in either city. What I am running into is a totally different way of doing business. Hospitals are banding together and sharing information about patients. The hospital where your own doctor practices knows you have become his patient as soon as you do. That is shared. Not all the details, I am told but enough to say who you are and what doctor to call. But, the biggest confusion for me was finding out doctors are no longer doing their own billing. Instead they are having it done by special billing offices. Then, if a problem or question about the billing comes up, you have no one to talk to. Each office tells you to call the other.

Maybe this sort of thing is happening in K. C. also now. I don't know. It rather shakes me up to go to a new doctor at a different hospital and have them tell me what doctor I was going to before I've opened my mouth.

Makes one wonder, doesn't it?

Ah well. Beautiful weather again. Let's enjoy and have a great day. Breakfast time here.

As chance would have it, I was in KC last night, and tonight I am in St. Louis, and I can say, without equivocation that both cities... are in Missouri. Beyond that, I feel unqualified to offer an opinion.

Oh wow... Going to St Louis this weekend for Memorial Day so perhaps I can give my take when I get there Saturday,... Haven't been to St Louis since I was a kid

Jus Getting back from St Louis...The Arch was Beautiful...Tall and Majestic. Outside the Arch and maybe Cardinal's (busch) Stadium Downtown STL isn't very Lively Can't Speak much on Kansas City

But St Louis Made up for it with Forest Park! Wow what a gem this park was. The Zoo (awesome by itself) Science Museum, Art Museum, History Museum, The Jewel Box all in one park, and all Free. Lush and Green and flowing with Fountains..Felt more like being in a European royal garden than anything in St Louis there was also a Art Fest going on so that may have made things a little more lively...but this park was a highlight

St Louis County...Wow I have never seen so many "mini cities" in my life...A 20 minute ride on the Interstate in St Louis County Takes you thru about 16 17 different "cities" LITERALLY. Each with a Welcome sign....Welcome to Clayton Missouri, Welcome to Ferguson Missouri, Welcome to Berkely Missouri, Welcome to Richmond Heights Missouri, Welcome to University City, Welcome to Chesterfield, Welcome to Florissant Missouri, Welcome to Jennings Missouri, Welcome to Ladue, Welcome to Maplewood, Welcome to Brentwood, Welcome to Hazelwood....Yeah you get the Point...I mean gaw lee I was told St Louis County has 91 of these mini cities. (you can drive thru most of them in 10 minutes) What do you all do with 91 different police forces and 91 mayors and 91 school districts in a single county!?...Whew that was mindboogling

But Anywhoo...St Louis was a Ok City kinda had a Slow Vibe to it except Near Major Attractions like Arch or Six Flags or Forest Park,...But when you step away from those attractions the city feels kinda Slow Paced. There's Construction around Arch to expand the grounds and the Arch Museum which is good, hopefully that Livens up the Downtown

There are a lot of little towns in the county and there has been talk for many years about merging with the city or doing away with most of the police departments and just having county police patrol those areas. We don't have 91 school districts, a lot of the towns share the same schools and some of these schools have no money so kids are getting transferred to other districts. As far as the mayors go, I think some of these guys are heading to the pokey because of troubles they got themselves into.

Yeah y'all should merge, 91 governments in one county is a lot of red tape and alot of infighting, How does St Louis remain competitive if you have to go thru almost 100 different governments to get stuff done, That may be holding St Louis back,..but then again It might be working out well for you guys

For comparison Being from Tennessee I can say Nashville's/ Davidson County only has about 6 cities and Memphis /Shelby County only has about 7 cities compared to St Louis county's 91 cities/surburbs

I agree, the multitude of small towns that make up St. Louis contribute to the slow paced vibe of the area. Its been studied over and over again and the same conclusion is found, get rid of all the little fiefdoms and merge St. Louis City and County and the area would explode, but local interest and small minded thinking is holding the area back.

As much as it pains me to say this, it frankly isn't. Not like could be, anyway. The metro is one of the most decentralized in the country in regards to where jobs are located. Cities in the county, like Clayton, continue to pull jobs away from downtown St. Louis. Also, even if a city/county merger were to happen, it would likely be in the form of St. Louis being added as yet another municipality, and not everything becoming the city of St. Louis like in other mergers across the country. St. Louis may not even become the county seat, as that would need to be wrestled away from Clayton.

And, for comparison's sake, St. Louis County & City combined have a larger population than both Davidson and Shelby counties, and in a fairly similar sized area as well, or at least to Davidson County anyway.

Davidson County
Population: 668,347
Area: 526 square miles

Shelby County
Population: 938,803
Area: 785 square miles

St. Louis County
Population: 1,001,876
523 miles

St. Louis City
Population: 317,419
Area: 66 square miles