The University of Kansas Health System has signed a definitive agreement to take full ownership of St. Francis Campus and its affiliated care sites in Topeka. The deal ends a joint venture of nearly 10 years with Brentwood, Tennessee-based Ardent Health, a partnership formed when the hospital's future was in doubt. The two organizations announced the deal Sept. 29 and expect it to close by the end of 2026.
For Topeka-area families, the change affects one of the city's main hospitals. Operational and clinical management, which Ardent has handled since 2017, will move to the Kansas City, Kansas-based academic health system. Both organizations say patients will not see disruptions to care.
