A Resilient Institution Where Mission Meets Medicine
The University of Kansas Health System – St. Francis Campus is more than a hospital; it’s a story of survival, transformation, and growth. Once on the brink of closure in 2017, this 378-bed regional referral center has invested over $109 million to become Northeast Kansas’s premier destination for advanced cardiac care. As one physician recalled:
“They had the fences stacked up in the drive, and they were about ready to shut us all down, and we still had people showing up to work.”
A Story of Transformation
Founded in 1909 by Catholic nuns, St. Francis grew from a modest faith-based facility into a sophisticated medical center. The 2017 joint venture between Ardent Health Services (70%) and KU Health System (30%) didn’t just save the hospital—it launched a new era of clinical and financial strength.
Short-term acute care hospital with Level III Trauma designation
378 licensed beds (183 staffed with room for growth)
20+ clinics and nearly 150 providers across 16 care sites
7,104 annual discharges, 24,146 ER visits, 3.84-day LOS
39.8% inpatient and 52.3% outpatient market share in Shawnee County
Case Mix Index: 1.72 – high-acuity, complex patient population
Cardiovascular Service Excellence
The Heart & Vascular Center is the crown jewel of St. Francis, rivaling programs at much larger academic hospitals.
Structural heart program (TAVR, Watchman, ASD/PFO closures)
Full EP services including complex ablations
Two cath labs with 24/7 STEMI coverage
Cardiac surgery program with two CT surgeons
Advanced cardiac imaging: MRI, CT, CTA
Cardiac rehabilitation center onsite
Mitral/tricuspid clip capabilities planned for 2026
Financial Stability & Strategic Investment
Net patient revenue: $290.4M, growing 5% annually
Capital investment: $109.7M since 2017 (double initial pledge)
Service expansion from one hospital to 20+ clinics