The University of Kansas Hospital, which is part of the KU Medical Center, purchased the former Sprint headquarters yesterday.

An opportunity to purchase the facility was made available to both the University and the hospital, but it did not fulfill the needs of the University, Dennis McCullough, director of public and government relations, said.

Growth has been an issue at the hospital since it became financially independent from the University in 1998, he said.

The price the hospital offered for the property was not disclosed.

The Johnson County appraiser’s office’s appraised value for the property in 2005 is about $7.5 million, up $5.7 million from the previous year’s assessment.

Located one and a half miles from the hospital’s campus at 39th Street and Rainbow Boulevard in Kansas City, Kan., the space will provide space for growing programs while still fulfilling a commitment for health care to the Kansas City area.

The hospital had been searching for cost-effective space, and was glad to close the deal with Sprint, McCullough said.

Finance and information management are some of the back office departments that will move to the facility, McCullough said. Several outpatient services will also move to the facility, but it is unclear which ones at this time.