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The University of Kansas Health System to fully own St. Francis Campus; Ardent Health to continue operational support throughout transition process
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. & KANSAS CITY, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
The University of Kansas Health System and Ardent Health (NYSE: ARDT) announced the signing of a definitive agreement today for The University of Kansas Health System to acquire full ownership of St. Francis Campus and affiliated care locations in Topeka, following a successful joint venture partnership of nearly 10 years. Under the new ownership structure, all operational responsibilities and clinical functions previously managed by Ardent Health since the beginning of the partnership will transition to The University of Kansas Health System, further integrating the campus into its broader health system.
“As St. Francis enters this exciting new era, we will continue to focus on what matters most: expanding access to exceptional care, supporting our local workforce and improving the health of the communities we serve,” said Bob Page, CEO of The University of Kansas Health System. “This transition is aligned with our initial commitment to sustain and grow the hospital and clinics in service to future generations.”
When Ardent Health and The University of Kansas Health System joined forces in 2017, St. Francis faced an uncertain future. The joint venture stabilized the campus, preserved access to care and protected jobs for the Topeka community. Since then, the partnership has expanded access to care through over 20 new clinics and outpatient care sites and the addition of advanced cardiovascular and cancer care services while earning national recognition for quality and safety. This transition marks the natural next step for St. Francis's future.
“We’re proud of what this partnership has made possible for St. Francis and the Topeka community,” said Dave Caspers, president and CEO of Ardent Health. “We regularly evaluate our portfolio to ensure we’re focusing our resources where our operating model, scale and capabilities can have the greatest impact and create long-term value. This transition reflects that approach, while positioning St. Francis to become more fully integrated with Kansas’s largest academic health system. We look forward to supporting a thoughtful transition and to seeing St. Francis continue to thrive.”
Upon closing the deal, to happen later this year, patients will not experience disruptions to care and will be able to continue accessing the services and providers they know and trust.Ardent Health will remain involved in daily campus operations for a period of time to be defined at deal close to ensure the continuation of existing strategic projects for the benefit of St. Francis’s patients, physicians, employees and community.
Under The University of Kansas Health System’s ownership, patients will have even greater access to an extensive, statewide network of care that brings together expert academic medicine and local care.
“As we move through the next phase of our transition, we look forward to gaining a deeper understanding of existing opportunities to strengthen services, expand specialties and enhance connections between St. Francis and The University of Kansas Health System while still keeping care local,” said Tammy Peterman, president and chief operating officer of The University of Kansas Health System.
The transaction is subject to necessary approvals and other customary closing conditions, with both organizations expecting to complete the transition by the end of 2026. Ardent Health and The University of Kansas Health System are committed to providing patients and community members with consistent updates as this process continues.
"This transition is about making sure more people across Kansas have access to the care they need, regardless of where they live," Page said. "We're committed to expanding access while maintaining the safe, compassionate, high-quality care the Topeka community has come to expect. We're excited about what this next chapter means for our patients, our employees and the future of health care in the region."
About The University of Kansas Health System
The University of Kansas Health System is the region's premier academic health system, providing a full range of care. The health system is affiliated with the University of Kansas Schools of Medicine, Nursing and Health Professions and their leading-edge research. In the Kansas City metro area, the health system offers more than 150 hospital and clinic locations, including a hospital in Kansas City, Kansas, hospitals in Olathe, Miami County and Liberty and two mental and behavioral health hospitals in the Kansas City area. The health system in Kansas City has received Magnet nursing designation five times in a row, and most recently was awarded Magnet with distinction. The University of Kansas Hospital has ranked every year since 2007 on U.S. News & World Report's Best Hospitals lists (best in Kansas and Kansas City). It provides the region's most experienced, nationally verified burn center and Level I Trauma Center, as well as a leading transplant program in liver, pancreas, kidney, heart and blood and marrow. The cancer program is part of The University of Kansas Cancer Center, a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center. In rural Kansas, the health system includes a hospital and outpatient facilities in Great Bend and are involved throughout the state via The University of Kansas Health System Care Collaborative.
About Ardent Health
Ardent Health(NYSE: ARDT) is a leading provider of healthcare in growing mid-sized urban communities across the U.S. The Company delivers care through its subsidiaries, which include 30 acute care hospitals and more than 280 sites of care with over 2,000 employed and affiliated providers across six states. Anchored by a shared operating model and a commitment to investing in innovative services and technologies that improve quality, access and experience, Ardent is focused on delivering strong clinical outcomes and improving the health of the patients and communities it serves.
A definitive agreement is a formal, legally binding document that outlines the final terms and conditions of a deal or transaction, such as a sale or partnership. It acts like a detailed contract that confirms all parties have agreed on the key details, making the deal official. For investors, it signals that the agreement is settled and moving toward completion, providing clarity and security about the transaction.
joint venturefinancial
A joint venture is when two or more companies team up to work on a specific project or business idea, sharing both the risks and the rewards. It’s like friends starting a lemonade stand together—each contributes resources and they split the profits, making it easier to succeed than going alone.
