LJWorld.com

This week's announcement that Robert Honse of Lawrence had been named chairman of the Kansas University Hospital Authority Board is good news. It means the strength, excellence and independence of the hospital in Kansas City, Kan., will continue to be protected against any efforts to weaken or handcuff the institution.

Dr. George J. Farha of Wichita had served as chairman of the board since the hospital's inception as an independent institution, roughly 10 years ago. The growth of the hospital's excellence during this period has been excellent, if not remarkable. Farha has done a first-class job in his leadership position during many rough and challenging times.

He was fortunate to have had the strong vision and tough leadership of Irene Cumming, who served as president and CEO; Bob Page, who at the time was vice president of the hospital; and Honse, who served on the executive committee. In addition, the large majority of the hospital board members were strong in their support of Farha and backed his opposition to efforts that would weaken the hospital.

Farha, Cumming, Page and Honse remained stalwart in their efforts to maintain the hospital's strength, even in the face of intense efforts by a handful of Kansas City business leaders, Chancellor Robert Hemenway, Executive Vice Chancellor Barbara Atkinson and Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, who favored a plan hatched in secrecy that would have strengthened a competing hospital, St. Luke's, at the expense of KU Hospital.

It was a one-way street, a give-away, with phony, weak arguments used to try to justify the plan.

Farha fought for KU Hospital and realized that weakening the hospital also would weaken the KU Medical Center's program in Wichita.

Gov. Sebelius, with the cooperation of Hemenway and Atkinson, tried to pack the hospital board with individuals who would serve as "yes men" or "yes women" for the governor or chancellor. A move to put Provost Richard Lariviere on the board was derailed by a ruling from the Kansas attorney general.

This doesn't mean, however, those trying to devise a way for the governor or chancellor to gain more control over the hospital board may not try to introduce legislation in the 2009 session that would help them achieve this goal.

Page became president and CEO of the hospital following Cumming's resignation, and he and Honse form a strong administrative team that will be alert to any new efforts to weaken the hospital.

After much behind-the-scenes maneuvering by Kansas City leaders, St. Luke's officials, Hemenway and Atkinson, an agreement was reached by KU Hospital, the KU School of Medicine and St. Luke's.

This agreement fell far short of what the St. Luke's crowd had hoped for and almost promised. Consequently, there is a strong likelihood they will renew efforts to try to salvage or gain more concessions from KU.

St. Luke's did obtain the use of a number of KU's medical residents, and St. Luke's doctors will be able to claim some kind of association with KU. However, the only working relationship between KU and St. Luke's will be in the fields of education and research, not in clinical activities - where money is made.

A lot of the big talk about what would be accomplished by merger efforts has proved to fall far short of the promises. Hence, the strong probability there will be continued efforts to alter the agreement to improve St. Luke's position.

This is why it is good that Honse has moved into the chairman's position. He will remain vigilant and alert to any efforts that would weaken the hospital. He, like Farha, is committed to doing whatever he can to continue to build the excellence of the hospital and protect and strengthen its staff.

Honse became CEO of the giant Farmland Industries, the nation's largest farm cooperative, as the company struggled to survive. Conditions were such that the company was forced to declare bankruptcy. He has just completed a term as chairman of the Baker University board of trustees and is a deacon at St. Margaret's Episcopal Church.

As noted above, the turnaround that has taken place at the hospital since it became an independent operation has been remarkable. Just this week, a news story reported the KU heart program ranks 35th in the nation, higher than any other heart program in this area. The mortality rate at the hospital is fourth in the nation, topped only by the Cleveland Clinic, UCLA and Johns Hopkins. There are many other areas that have achieved national recognition, and the Honse-Page team is determined to continue this drive to even greater excellence and superior patient care.

It's puzzling why anyone connected with KU would have wanted to engage in any scheme that would weaken KU Hospital or the medical school. The reasoning or justification for such actions was not accurate or truthful, and consequently, some of the most prominent people favoring such actions have lost a significant degree of credibility.

Kansas residents should be highly appreciative of Farha's role as chairman of the KU Hospital board as he did a superb job of looking after the best interests of Kansas. Likewise, Irene Cumming deserves the thanks of all Kansans, as does Bob Page.

Kansas legislators, led by House Speaker Melvin Neufeld, became increasingly concerned about the giveaway and held hearings and investigations about what was going on. They made it clear they were not going to OK anything that would weaken the KU medical school or KU Hospital which have received hundreds of millions of dollars of support from Kansas taxpayers.

Now, Honse is chairman and the Honse-Page team can be counted on to lead the hospital to greater levels of excellence and service and to protect the interests of all Kansans.