The money will help the region build a "cluster" of digital health companies, which will attract more investment and more wealth to Kansas City, UMKC's Maria Meyers says.

Liberty Hospital combining with the University of Kansas Health System will be a natural extension of the work it is already doing in Missouri, Bob Page, CEO and President of the KU Health System, said.

The Mission Woods private equity firm attracted more money and investors than it expected for its third fund. The firm's co-founders expect to use the money to continue investing in Midwestern companies with $20 million to $150 million in annual revenue.

Overland Park-based Netsmart aims to wed its experience in electronic health records with the potential of artificial intelligence to improve care for patients and add efficiency for providers.