KU Health System to Take Full Ownership of St. Francis Campus in Topeka

Transition Ends a Decade of Joint Management in Topeka

The upcoming transition will shift day-to-day management and governance entirely to the University of Kansas Health System, dissolving the co-ownership structure established in 2017. Bob Page, CEO of the University of Kansas Health System, told reporters that the two health systems successfully righted the ship together. Dave Caspers, president and CEO of Ardent Health, noted that the portfolio evaluation led the organization to direct its scale and capabilities where operating models have the greatest impact, making it an opportune moment to transition the campus to full integration with Kansas’s largest academic health system, according to reporting by WIBW.

Under the terms of the concluding agreement, Ardent Health has overseen daily operations while the University of Kansas Health System provided clinical and financial backing. Both systems will continue collaborating through the remainder of the year to finalize the closing agreement by the end of the year.

Financial Rescue from 2017 Preceded Modern Expansion

The partnership traces back to a critical juncture in 2017 when Topeka’s St. Francis Health faced imminent closure. Previous owner SCL Health reported cumulative losses totaling $117 million over the preceding five years, alongside a $31 million deficit in its physician clinics for 2016 alone. At the request of Gov. Sam Brownback, the University of Kansas Health System and Ardent Health stepped in to purchase the hospital and prevent Topeka from being reduced to a single-hospital market anchored by Stormont Vail Health.

Recalling the atmosphere at the time, Page described the situation as dire, noting community prayer vigils in the parking lot and widespread anxiety among employees regarding care access and local employment. Over the ensuing years, the joint venture stabilized the institution’s finances and expanded its footprint. The campus now operates 20 clinics and outpatient care sites across Topeka, an increase from 12 locations in 2017.

Commitment to Workforce Stability and Local Care

Hospital leadership confirmed that the change in ownership will bring zero layoffs. Tammy Peterman, president of the health system’s Kansas City division, stated that current personnel will transition smoothly into official employees of the University of Kansas Health System starting in January. This window allows administration to evaluate prospective clinical expansions.

Scott Campbell, who has served as CEO of St. Francis since July 2022, emphasized that the partnership yielded tremendous growth, quality enhancements, and service expansions. With full control, the University of Kansas Health System expands its network to six licensed hospitals and more than 150 care locations across the region. Page reiterated that the central mission remains keeping care close to home, sparing Topeka residents from traveling to Kansas City for their care.