TEMPLE -- Scott & White Healthcare announces plans to merge with, Dallas based, Baylor Health Care System to create the largest healthcare system in the state of Texas.
The boards of both systems approved the signing of an agreement of intent to combine the two to create a $7.7 billion organization.
Scott & White and Baylor have been working together for nearly six years and over the last year have been putting together this plan to merge and place both systems under one umbrella organization.
The new system, which will be named Baylor Scott & White Health, will include a combined 42 hospitals, more than 350 clinics, more than 4,000 active physicians, 34,000 employees and Scott & White Health Plan.
The merger would make Baylor Scott & White the largest not-for-profit health system in Texas and one of the largest around the country.
Both organizations are affiliated with Texas A&M Health Sciences Center and have extensive investments in medical education and research.
That connection will allow Baylor Scott & White Health to offer one of the best training opportunities for future generations.
Officials said the merger will offer patients more convenient access to their first class healthcare and even offer a reduction in cost of healthcare.
Patients should see little to no effect in their current healthcare and the merger, according to officials, will be seamless.
Both organizations are awaiting an approval of the agreement of intent. The next stage in the transaction -- a definitive agreement -- is expected to be finalized in 2013.
