Radiology Technologist

These Kansas City hospitals will expand access to a cutting-edge cancer treatment. KCUR | By Noah Taborda Published February 20, 2026 at 6:58 AM CST A new partnership will create a theranostics health care platform in the region with radiopharmaceutical production and therapy, molecular imaging, and clinical trials all at the same location. One Kansas City health care system will be among the first to offer the treatment to children. When John Corbin was diagnosed with Stage 4 prostate cancer, he was given just five years to live. Today, 10 years later, Corbin has what he calls an "extra credit" in life to focus on the things he loves, like gardening and cooking. His cancer is under control, and he credits that to a medicine called Pluvicto, a theranostic he received at the University of Kansas Health System. "I always teased and called it super juice because it was a blessing," Corbin said in a hospital video for the treatment plan. The specialized approach to care - which combines therapy and diagnostics - delivers radiation directly to diseased cells, minimizing damage to healthy tissue in the process, like a heat-seeking missile. Soon, the University of Kansas Health System, the University of Kansas Medical Center, and Children's Mercy will partner with BAMF Health, a Michigan provider with a background in theranostics, to create an integrated platform for more patients to take advantage of this life-saving treatment. That means Kansas City could become home to more cutting-edge research, quicker diagnoses, and new treatments for cancer, neurological conditions and other diseases. Children's Mercy President and CEO Alejandro Quiroga said at a press conference this week that the approach will help catch disease early and treat it with precision. "This is going to bring emerging therapies for patients that otherwise might not have that kind of help," Quiroga said. Theranostics is already used in adult care, and Quiroga said Children's Mercy will be among the first to offer it for kids. The new collaboration will focus on carrying out radiopharmaceutical production and therapy, molecular imaging, and clinical trials at the same location. That means increased access to treatment for kids and adults. "Take prostate cancer for example," said BAMF Health CEO Anthony Chang, at the press conference. "We can catch cancer earlier, know where and exactly what it is, and we can treat those kinds of metastatic disease in the most efficient way, without causing devastating side effects." Chang said this partnership between a hospital, health systems, and university provides the necessary infrastructure to create a center prepared to keep up with a rapidly evolving field of science and medicine. And, while theranostics is used predominantly for cancer right now, it is also used to treat certain thyroid conditions and is showing promise in other fields like neurology. "This collaboration will offer patients and their families leading-edge diagnostic and treatment technology," said Tammy Peterman, president of the Kansas City Division for The University of Kansas Health System. The setup for the new platform will vary, with some steps taking months, and others happening over the course of a year or two. Once complete, there will be an emphasis on local clinical trials for a wide variety of conditions, like Parkinson's disease, cardiovascular disease, endometriosis, pain management and more. Brenda Gregg, director of programs for the Alzheimer's Association, Heart of America Chapter, said the strides in diagnosis are especially important for Alzheimer's patients, only half of whom are diagnosed. "While there is no cure for Alzheimer's currently, there are new treatments that can slow the progression of the disease," Gregg said in a statement. "These treatments are only available to individuals in the earliest stages of the disease, making early detection and diagnosis critically important."

Building the future of pediatric care in southwest Missouri. Access to specialized pediatric healthcare can be life-changing for families, and soon families across southwest Missouri will have a new place dedicated entirely to meeting their children's medical needs. Snyder Construction Group is honored to serve as Construction Manager a new Children's Mercy pediatric outpatient clinic on Mercy Springfield Communities' South Springfield campus. This transformative healthcare investment is designed to bring a wide range of pediatric services together under one roof while strengthening access to high-quality services throughout the region. A purpose-driven partnership. This project represents a collaborative effort between Children's Mercy, a nationally recognized pediatric health system, and Mercy Springfield Communities, a longstanding healthcare provider serving the region. Together, these organizations are investing in a new outpatient facility to support pediatric care in southwest Missouri. Engaged early in the process, Snyder Construction Group partnered with Children's Mercy, Mercy Springfield Communities, and the design team to support planning, budgeting, scheduling, and constructibility. As Construction Manager, Snyder's role has focused on collaborating with the design team to translate project goals into a buildable plan, providing early cost and schedule insight, and supporting informed decision-making as the project progressed from concept into construction. A facility designed around families. The two-story, approximately 40,000 SF outpatient facility is thoughtfully planned to bring a wide range of pediatric services together in one welcoming environment. By consolidating care under a single roof, the clinic is designed to help reduce travel burdens for families while improving coordination among providers. The new clinic will serve as an important investment in pediatric healthcare in southwest Missouri. It is purpose-built to support growing demand and evolving care models for years to come. Community support. The project has been made possible in part through philanthropic support from the region, including a lead gift from the O'Reilly family. Their contribution underscores the deep community investment behind this clinic and reflects a shared belief in the importance of accessible, specialized pediatric care. At its core, this facility is more than a building. It is a collective effort driven by healthcare leaders, community partners, and philanthropic champions who recognize the lasting impact of investing in children's health. Building what matters. As construction progresses, Snyder Construction Group is proud to contribute early expertise and ongoing coordination in support of a facility that will serve families and providers across southwest Missouri for years to come.

Children's Mercy launches Helen app to transform pediatric care and combat nurse burnout. KANSAS CITY, Mo., Jan. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Children's Mercy has pioneered a new way to care for kids and support the nurses who make it possible. As one of the nation's top independent pediatric health systems, Children's Mercy is proud to announce it is the first children's hospital to launch Helen, a secure and innovative mobile app, designed to remove the burden of non-clinical work so nurses can focus on what matters most: caring for patients. By routing non-medical tasks to a dedicated concierge team, Helen helps ease burnout, enhances the patient and family experience and sets a new standard for how world-class pediatric care is delivered. The app was born from the bedside reality that nurses spend 30% of each shift on tasks that do not require a clinical license - getting the patient water, adjusting pillows or removing trash. These interruptions add cognitive load, erode job satisfaction and contribute to burnout at a time when the national nursing shortage is projected to reach 63,000 nurses by 2030. Helen changes that. With just a few taps, nurses can submit requests through the app, which are routed to a concierge team to assist with tasks. From delivering supplies and preparing rooms for admission or discharge to making simple adjustments like opening curtains or turning on lights, Helen ensures every detail is handled without pulling nurses away from critical care. "Helen isn't just technology - it's a reimagination of care delivery," said Alejandro Quiroga, MD, MBA, President and CEO, Children's Mercy. "By removing friction and shifting non-clinical tasks away from nurses, we give them back the most precious resource: time. Time to think critically. Time to connect deeply with patients and families. This is how we create joy in practice and set a new standard for the future of pediatric care." Dr. Quiroga recently shared his perspective in a NEJM Catalyst article titled, "Why Clinicians Hold the Key to Fixing Health Care's Complexity Problem," underscoring the critical role of clinician-led innovation in simplifying complexity and improving care delivery. That same philosophy guided his collaboration with the Helen team to develop the app - a concept he first introduced at a previous institution. "Helen is not a set of apps routing requests from one team to another. It is a sophisticated, mobile-first digital operating system purpose-built for the non-clinical work that has long lived in healthcare's blind spots," said Jeff Bennett, CEO, Helen. "Extensive real-world use has demonstrated that Helen's technology enables ancillary service teams to operate at three to four times the efficiency of their analog peers, fully integrates those teams into the care model, and removes non-clinical burden from nurses entirely. The result is measurable clinical and financial impact, driven by a new level of intelligence, accountability, and purpose-built teams designed for the realities of modern healthcare." Helen was piloted across two inpatient units (52 beds) at Children's Mercy and the results from the first 60-days speak volumes. * 75,000 minutes returned to nursing teams. * 14,000+ tasks completed. * ~1 hour back per nurse per shift. * 1.4 million steps eliminated (583 miles walked for non-clinical work). The success of Helen has paved the way for expansion to two additional floors (58 beds) this month, with a hospital-wide rollout planned for spring 2026. "Helen is transforming how we honor the nursing profession - empowering nurses to practice fully at the top of their license," said Stephanie Meyer, RN, MS-FNP, NEA-BC, Executive Vice President, Chief Nursing Executive, Chief Operating Officer Acute Care, Children's Mercy. "By lifting the weight of non-clinical tasks, we safeguard the clarity and critical thinking that bedside care demands. This is about sustainability - creating space for connection, compassion and clinical excellence so our nurses can thrive, and our patients receive the very best care." Helen also provides operational insights by tracking every request, enabling data-driven improvements in efficiency and resource allocation. Future integration will allow families to make non-clinical requests across a variety of mobile touchpoints. Founded in 1897, Children's Mercy is a nationally recognized, independent pediatric health system and a world leader in pediatric translational research committed to transforming the lives of children and families. With hospitals and specialty clinics across Missouri and Kansas, Children's Mercy delivers world-class, family-centered care closer to home. As a nonprofit organization, Children's Mercy reinvests every dollar donated into advancing pediatric medicine, supporting innovative research and training the next generation of pediatric specialists. With more than 800 pediatric experts, researchers and faculty Port Arthur News is dedicated to improving outcomes and creating a healthier future for all children. Children's Mercy has earned repeated recognition from U.S. News & World Report as one of "America's Best Children's Hospitals" and is the first health system in Missouri or Kansas to receive six consecutive Magnet designations for nursing excellence. Thanks to generous philanthropic support and a strong volunteer community, Children's Mercy provides hope, comfort and the prospect of brighter tomorrows to every child who comes through its doors. Visit Children's Mercy and the Children's Mercy Research Institute to learn more, and follow Port Arthur News on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Bluesky and YouTube for the latest news and videos. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/childrens-mercy-launches-helen-app-to-transform-pediatric-care-and-combat-nurse-burnout-302661704.html SOURCE Children's Mercy Kansas City