OLATHE HEALTH WILL SOON BE PART OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS HEALTH SYSTEM. OFFICIALS FROM BOTH ORGANIZATIONS ANNOUNCED THEY HAVE STARTED NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS. THE MOVE WOULD EXTEND ACCESS TO THE KU HEALTH SYSTEM’S NETWORK OF SPECIALIZED HEALTHCARE SERVICES SUCH AS VASCULAR SURGERY AND UROLOGY TO THE OLATHE HEALTH SERVICES AREA, WHICH INCLUDES PARTS OF JOHNSON, MIAMI, FRANKLIN AND LINN COUNTIES.
THE AGREEMENT WOULD INCLUDE FUTURE ENHANCEMENTS TO OLATHE HEALTH SERVICES AND CLINICS, KEEPING ALL 2,300 OLATHE HEALTH ASSOCIATES EMPLOYEES UNDER THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS HEALTH SYSTEM AND ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR THE OLATHE MEDICAL CENTER’S GOAL TO ACHIEVE MAGNET DESIGNATION, A CLASSIFICATION FOR NURSING EXCELLENCE. CEO AND PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS HEALTH SYSTEM, BOB PAGE, SAYS THEY ARE COMMITTED TO MAKING IT WORK AND DOING IT RIGHT FOR PATIENTS. NO DETAILS WERE RELEASED ON WHEN THE MERGER WOULD BE FINALIZED.