Just about one week after the Kansas Board of Regents approved the final affiliation agreement between St. Luke’s Hospital and the Kansas University Medical Center, leaders from the two hospitals and KU Hospital have agreed on a framework to aid their collaboration in cancer research and care, according to published reports released Thursday.

“While they certainly help define the focus of discussions, there is no agreement in principle that has been reached yet,” said David Adkins, vice chancellor of external affairs for KU Medical Center. “It would be more accurate to characterize the discussions as ongoing between leadership of the KU Cancer Center, KU Hospital and St. Luke’s Hospital.”

The agreement between St. Luke’s Hospital and KU Medical Center will expand cancer research and help train more faculty, said Amy Jordan-Wooden, director of public affairs at KU Medical Center.

“We’re working on a second affiliation agreement with KU Hospital to do much of the same thing. The third agreement we’re trying to work on is an agreement as it relates to cancer research as it pertains to gaining National Cancer Institute Designation.”

The five guiding principles outlined informally among hospital leaders:

¢ The collaboration would include a standard set of clinical quality measures.

¢ An advisory board would guide and oversee the collaboration.

¢ There would be no merging of operations.

¢ The parties would work cooperatively under the leadership of KU Medical Center.

¢ If the collaboration leads to construction of any facilities, all participating hospitals would have the opportunity to participate.

Adkins said the outlined principles represent issues under consideration by the parties, “as they seek to find common ground around a number of very complicated concepts.”

“I do think the early stages of these conversations have been very productive and positive and would take on a three-way agreement look and feel,” Jordan-Wooden said. “All three parties would be involved.”

“We know collaboration is king when it comes to getting National Cancer Institute Designation,” she said. “We’re trying to work toward a more collaborative future.”