Registered Nurse

These are the 5 best hospitals in the Kansas City area, new ranking says. August 4, 2026 9:09 AM Gift Article U.S. News and World Report has released its report on the best hospitals in the Kansas City region for 2026. More than 4,500 hospitals across 14 adult specialties and 23 procedures and condition were evaluated for this report. Then, U.S. News narrowed it down to 505 top regional hospitals. The media outlet used new specialty rankings for the report, including cancer, cardiology, heart and vascular surgery, orthopedics and rehabilitation. Missouri had 12 facilities that were recognized on the list. The highest-ranked hospital in the state is Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. Only two made the cut for the Kansas side, with the University of Kansas Hospital ranking at the top for the Sunflower State. U.S. News and World Report pulled data from 800 million records of patient care for this study. This year, risk-adjusted outcome measures played a larger in the rankings. These five hospitals were the top ranked in the Kansas City region for 2026, according to U.S. News. 1. University of Kansas Hospital, Kansas City, Kansas. This Kansas City, Kansas hospital has several high performing programs, according to U.S. News. That includes being the 23rd best hospital for cardiology, heart and vascular surgery. The hospital was also ranked for the following programs: * 30. Geriatrics * 26. Neurology and neurosurgery * 40. Obstetrics and gynecology * 33. Pulmonology and lung surgery 2. Saint Luke's hospital of Kansas City. Saint Luke's is the 47th best hospital for cardiology, heart and vascular surgery. The midtown facility is ranked as the sixth-best Missouri hospital, according to U.S. News. Heart attack, lung cancer surgery, and ear, nose and throat surgery are among its high-performing categories. 3. Saint Luke's east hospital, lee's summit. Though it doesn't have any programs that are ranked, St. Luke's has several programs that are performing highly, according to U.S. News. Programs such as heart attack and diabetes were recognized as high performing. 4. Advent health shawnee mission. Last year, the Merriam hospital was considered high performing in 12 procedures and conditions, like colon cancer surgery and maternity care in uncomplicated pregnancies. This year, its high performers include its program for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, as well as its diabetes program. 5. NKC health hospital, North Kansas City. Located north of the river, North Kansas City Hospital has previously rated high performing in 15 adult procedures and conditions. This year, its high performing categories include diabetes and hip replacement. The Kansas City Star

President of Saint Luke's announces retirement, BJC Health to conduct search for replacement. Julie Quirin, FACHE, retiring after nearly 30 years of service with Saint Luke's. May 04, 2026 2 minutes After nearly 30 years with Saint Luke's, Julie Quirin, FACHE, president of Saint Luke's, the West Region of BJC Health, has announced her retirement effective March 1, 2027. Quirin took on the role as president in 2023, overseeing day-to-day operations for Saint Luke's, including its acute-care hospitals, ambulatory clinics, and post-acute functions; Saint Luke's physician enterprise; hospital throughput; clinical nursing administration; government affairs team; and philanthropy. BJC Health will conduct a national search to fill the role. "Julie strengthened Saint Luke's and BJC through nearly 30 years of service to our patients, community, and care givers, and I am personally grateful for her impact," said Nick Barto, president and CEO of BJC Health. "She leaves a positive mark every place she goes and has left an indelible mark on all of us who have had the privilege to work alongside her." In her role as president, Quirin guided Saint Luke's integration with BJC, successfully expanded radiation therapy services in the Northland and doubled ambulatory surgical capacity at Saint Luke's East. She launched a new service-line approach that improved quality, reduced variation, and fueled strategic growth. She strengthened a culture of belonging and inclusion by helping to launch the first two Connections Groups at Saint Luke's and serving as an executive sponsor for one. She also advanced equitable access to care and invested in community health by providing free gun locks, sponsoring Food As Medicine programs, and supporting youth development. Her professional honors include being named as a 2024 Women Who Mean Business honoree by the Kansas City Business Journal, as well as one of Ingram's Magazine's 50 Missourians You Should Know in 2025 and Ingram's 250 Most Influential Business Leaders from 2019-2025. Quirin joined Saint Luke's in 1997 and has served in numerous leadership roles, including senior vice president and chief operating officer of Saint Luke's Health System, senior vice president of hospital operations, CEO of Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City, senior vice president of continuum of care services, and president and CEO of Saint Luke's South Hospital. She has been a diplomat with the American College of Healthcare Executives since 2005 and serves as a member of the University of Missouri Kansas City board of trustees. She is past chair of the Missouri Hospital Association and a past chairman of the United Way of Greater Kansas City. Quirin has held leadership positions with Kansas City March of Dimes, Kansas Hospital Association, Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, Women's Intersport Network for Kansas City, and the American Hospital Association as chair of its Metropolitan Hospital Section and serves on the AHA Regional Policy Board.