The University of Kansas Health System and Liberty Hospital announced Thursday they will pursue a partnership. The Liberty Hospital Board of Trustees voted to pursue the partnership. “From the outset, we focused on finding a partner who will invest in increasing access to high-quality care, offers a great cultural fit, and upholds our commitment to the community and our employees,” said Raghu Adiga, MD, Liberty Hospital’s president and chief executive officer. “We believe The University of Kansas Health System is uniquely positioned to support us in bringing world-class clinical excellence to the Northland and northwest Missouri, making exceptional healthcare as close and convenient as it can be.”Both hospitals are working out specifics of the partnership. The specifics of the partnership will be finalized in future discussions. “Liberty and the region deserve access to the highest quality care close to home. Together, we can deliver the full spectrum of care while keeping care local,” said Bob Page, president and CEO of the University of Kansas Health System. Leaders from both hospitals expect to finalize a non-binding letter of intent in the coming days