Ashland hospital system, with 465 beds, is now part of UK

Main hospital of King's Daughters in Ashland

King's Daughters Hospital in Ashland is now fully incorporated into the University of Kentucky's health-care enterprise.

The hospital, one of Kentucky's largest and northeastern Kentucky's largest employer, became part of UK HealthCare Thursday, Dec. 1.

"UK and King’s Daughters have been working together for nearly two years," UK's Kristi Willett notes. "During this time, King’s Daughters has experienced significant growth in employees and revenues and has begun to build and expand important infrastructure to improve access and care for people in the region. In October 2022, the UK Board of Trustees approved plans for the KD to become part of UK."

Kristie Whitlatch remains president and CEO of King’s Daughters. "When the partnership was established, UK and King’s Daughters intentionally positioned King’s Daughters to keep its identity and continue to make decisions locally," Willett writes.

King's Daughters serves a 16-county region in Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia and has more than 5,000 employees. "Its health system is comprised of two acute-care hospitals totaling 465 licensed beds; an integrated network of more than 600 physicians and advanced practitioners; more than 50 ambulatory centers and practice locations; a long-term care facility; medical transport company; and six urgent care centers," Willett reports.