UK trustees approve Ashland hospital becoming part of UK Healthcare

LEXINGTON, Ky. (KT) - The University of Kentucky Board of Trustees on Thursday approved proceeding with plans later this year for Ashland-based King's Daughters Health System to become part of UK HealthCare.

After working together for the past 18 months as members of Royal Blue Health LLC, or RBH, leaders of both King's Daughters and UK said they believe this next step will significantly expand health services offered to communities while positively driving the economic engine in the region through investments in people and infrastructure. Expanding this relationship so that King's Daughters becomes part of the University of Kentucky will not impact local operations.

RBH is the company that was established by UK and King's Daughters to facilitate growing the relationship between King's Daughters and UK. On Thursday, the RBH Board, including representatives from King's Daughters, received notice that UK wants to finalize making King's Daughters part of UK HealthCare.

"Our vision is for the University of Kentucky to advance the commonwealth in everything that we do. The health and well-being of our people is critical to that vision," said UK President Eli Capilouto. "King's Daughters and its team will help UK move this vision forward in eastern Kentucky and the success of this relationship is a testament to the power of UK's work to advance the Commonwealth."

The RBH Board voted unanimously in favor of developing and implementing a plan to finalize this transition. Now, UK and King's Daughters will seek regulatory approvals and finalize transition documents. If approvals are received, King's Daughters would become part of UK on Dec. 1.

Kristie Whitlatch, president/CEO of King's Daughters, said she agrees with the move. "King's Daughters has been serving the health care needs of eastern Kentucky, southern Ohio, and western West Virginia for more than 120 years. Expanding the relationship with the University of Kentucky gives me great confidence we are positioning the health system and all its subsidiaries to be stronger for generations to come."

At the end of fiscal year 2022, which was Sept. 30, King's Daughters employed nearly 5,000 team members. That's an increase of more than 1,000 employees since the end of fiscal year 2020. The increased employment is a result of King's Daughters focus on expanding access to care.