Sketchy reports from Topeka and Kansas City indicate there has been some progress in the ongoing struggle between the Kansas University Medical Center, KU Hospital and St. Luke’s Hospital. These reports are somewhat accurate, but any agreements to date are in concept only; nothing has been signed and much remains to be finalized.

There has been an informal agreement between the Medical Center and KU Hospital that ties physicians and those involved in clinical practice much closer to KU Hospital than they have been in past years, a move many think is of critical importance.

In fact, as one knowledgeable observer pointed out, Irene Cumming, president and CEO of KU Hospital, has been able to wrestle control of the doctors away from the medical school, creating a much closer relationship between these doctors and the hospital. There is less of a chance that Medical Center Executive Vice Chancellor Barbara Atkinson would be able to weaken the hospital by playing games using the doctors to strengthen St. Luke’s at the expense of KU Hospital.

Additionally – and, again, this is a concept at this time – St. Luke’s will have to pay a higher price in dollars than originally planned for the KU tie and they probably will have to compromise on what they wanted in the level of depth of KU’s branding.

Clearly, those who have fought to protect KU Hospital and the medical school have won concessions from the original giveaway planned and approved by Chancellor Robert Hemenway, Atkinson, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and Kansas City businessmen Irv Hockaday and Bill Hall.

However, nothing is signed as yet, and many details remain to be agreed upon.

The mess and distrust at the Medical Center, KU Hospital and St. Luke’s Hospital continues to simmer, and it could become an even more unpleasant situation.

Unfortunately, this embarrassing and damaging display of secrecy, hidden motives, egos, turf wars, politics, sell-outs and managerial incompetence is going to impact a number of individuals and offices. It is becoming increasingly obvious that the large majority of Kansas lawmakers have been left in the dark.

If it hadn’t been for the courage and vision of KU Hospital CEO Irene Cumming and the courage and commitment to Kansas of House Speaker Melvin Neufeld and Rep. Jim Morrison, who have not bowed to pressures from Hemenway, Atkinson, Hockaday and Hall, the plan to sell the brand name of the KU Medical Center to St. Luke’s would have been a done deal by now. Those pushing the plan had no intention of getting an OK from Kansas lawmakers. As it is, the mess and accompanying suspicion just gets worse. It now touches the Kansas Board of Regents for their lack of oversight and the chancellor and Atkinson for their puzzling demands and pressure tactics in trying to jam the affiliation down the throats of those opposing it.

Why has Gov. Sebelius entered the picture? Could she be using the affiliation effort as a means to sweeten and strengthen her future political potential? The behind-the-scenes motives of the Kansas City/St. Luke’s crowd that is pushing the hijacking of the KU brand have not been made public. Then there are the damaging consequences of talented, high-profile doctors and staff members leaving the Medical Center. In addition, a number of doctors being recruited by KU may decide, in light of poor management and leadership, to look elsewhere for top positions.

Regents have been told to hire an arbitrator to try to resolve the mess. This is a clear signal the regents have not been paying enough attention to what is going on at the medical school. They have been, and are, in the dark. Atkinson and Hemenway caved in to St. Luke’s demands that an agreement be reached by March 31 when there is no reason for them to be led by their noses by those who are trying to strengthen St. Luke’s. Better to discard the deadline and take the time to get an agreement that protects KU and Kansas.

Unfortunately, the recent history of leadership at the KU medical school has not been

good. The current disgraceful situation shows a serious lack of control.

From the outset, there has been a concern that Cumming might become so disillusioned that she would resign or that her strong opposition to the plan being pushed by Hemenway, Atkinson and, now, Provost Richard Lariviere might cause Sebelius to attempt to pack the hospital board with new appointees who would demand that Cumming leave or be fired.

This would be a huge loss for the hospital, the medical school and the state of Kansas. Cumming has done a superb job and has been unwilling to knuckle under to the pressures by those who favored the St. Luke’s affiliation. She will not OK a plan she believes will weaken the hospital and medical school. If she should decide to leave, it shouldn’t be looked upon as a sign she “lost” and that Hemenway/Atkinson “won.” Rather, she refused to sell out her hospital and medical school. It could be that conditions might reach the point that she decides it’s better to leave than to endure the constant negative manner and actions of Atkinson and Hemenway.

If she should leave, there should be a major housecleaning starting at the top of the Medical Center as well as elsewhere. Atkinson and others should be held accountable for this smelly mess.

What incentives have been put on the table for Hemenway, Atkinson, Sebelius and others to be so zealous in trying to force this affiliation with St. Luke’s?

The arguments presented by these advocates are weak and hollow. Every one of the arguments can be answered with a far better and cleaner solution.

As noted above, why would Sebelius get into the mess when she doesn’t have to, other than perhaps looking for support and backing for any future political goals she may pursue?

Again, Neufeld, Morrison and Cumming deserve the thanks and appreciation of all Kansans for their courage and commitment to fight for what is best for Kansas. The state deserves something far better than what it has received in this instance in the arrogant manner and attitude of those representing the university both in Lawrence and Kansas City and or those demanding the affiliation with St. Luke’s.