Charlotte, N.C.-based Atrium Health has signed an agreement with Wake Forest Baptist Health and Wake Forest University, both in Winston-Salem, N.C., to create a "unique and transformative academic healthcare system."
Regulatory agencies are reviewing the agreement, which is expected to be completed by early next year.
The nonprofit healthcare systems signed a memorandum of understanding in April.
"Simply stated, we have a bold vision to combine our respective talents and create the nation's leading modern academic healthcare system. We have now taken a giant step forward in bringing that collective vision to life," said Eugene Woods, president and CEO of Atrium Health.
As part of the plan to create and jointly operate an academic medical center, Atrium Health and Wake Forest Baptist Health plan to develop a second medical school in Charlotte, invest in translational research and a population health center in Winston-Salem, and expand virtual care capabilities across the state.
The organizations also plan to build a medical tower on the Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center campus that will include an emergency department, operating rooms and intensive care unit. The systems also have plans for an eye institute on the campus.