University of Kentucky HealthCare is joining with Ashland’s King’s Daughters Health System in a new partnership. Boards from both systems approved the arrangement Friday morning.
Dr. Mark Newman is UK executive vice president for health affairs. “The partnership will provide expanded access to tertiary level services for residents of the region including access to UK HealthCare’s solid organ transplantation program, bone marrow transplantation, and expand on the existing relationship between UK’s Markey Cancer Center and King’s Daughters.”
Kristi Whitlatch will continue in her role as president and CEO at King’s Daughters. While she will join the UK HealthCare management team, no other changes in management, compensation, benefits, or job responsibilities are anticipated at either health care system. Whitlatch said the pandemic has only intensified health challenges. “I think we have a lot of opportunities though. Lot of issues economically, social determinants of care. Health care that we can work on together. And so, I think it will strengthen King’s Daughters. It will allow us to thrive and allow us to serve our region even better than we do today,” said Whitlatch.
Operational details of the partnership are expected in April.
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