TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – Ardent Health announced that it will be stepping down from its role overseeing the University of Kansas Health System St. Francis Campus in Topeka.
Officials with the St. Francis Campus held a press conference Tuesday with the update.
View the full announcement here.
The University of Kansas Health System and Ardent Health joined forces in 2017 to oversee the operations and management of the St. Francis Campus after its owner at the time, SCL Health, threatened to stop operating the hospital if they couldn’t find a buyer.
At that time, the hospital was facing several financial troubles. But officials say since then the hospital has thrived, maintaining jobs in Topeka and serving its patients.
Officials say patients will not experience any changes following the decision and will be able to continue accessing the services they need.
“Patients will be able to continue accessing the same services, the same providers that they know and that they trust,” said Tammy Peterman, president of KU Health, Kansas City division. “There’s no action that patients need to take right now.”
The University of Kansas Health System will take over full ownership of the St. Francis Campus. Ardent Health believes the step is a positive one and will help the campus move forward in its endeavors.
“This is a very important milestone for St. Francis and the communities that we serve, and it reflects the strength of the system and what we have built together,” said Scott Campbell, CEO of the University of Kansas Health System.
“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.”
The closing agreement on the decision will be signed by the end of the year. The two health systems will continue working together throughout the rest of the year to ensure the continuation of existing projects.
Both organizations are expecting to complete the transition by the end of 2026.
“Our plan is to welcome the employees to the University of Kansas Health System in January, with a formal transition,” Peterman said.
Stormont Vail Health said it looks forward to what the transition brings and the shared common goal of treating all patients close to home.
The full statement from SVH can be read below:
Stormont Vail Health recognizes the important role The University of Kansas Health System and Ardent Health have played in preserving healthcare access in Topeka since their partnership acquired St. Francis Hospital in Topeka in 2017. Their investment helped ensure the continued availability of healthcare services for our community and region.
As details regarding the announced transition become available, we look forward to learning more about what it may mean for patients, providers, and our community. We share a common goal with healthcare organizations throughout Kansas: ensuring patients have access to high-quality care close to home whenever possible.
Stormont Vail Health remains committed to serving our community through continued investments in patient care, workforce development, rural health access, innovation, and partnerships that strengthen the health of the region.
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