Officials from 100-bed Rice Memorial Hospital and Affiliated Community Medical Centers Health — both in Willmar, Minn. — voted to officially sign a letter of intent to affiliate with St. Cloud, Minn.-based CentraCare Health.
Officials said CentraCare Health's shared values and approach to care made the six-hospital system a good partner.
The institutions will maintain their current leaders and organizational structure before, during and after the transaction closes, which officials expect to occur in 2018.
"We envision an entirely new and exciting care delivery model for people in this region. This partnership brings the expertise of all three organizations together for the benefit of our communities," said Cindy Smith, MD, president and CEO of ACMC Health. "By bringing together local physicians, healthcare providers and the public hospital, we have the opportunity to take an innovative approach to rural healthcare."