Oconee Medical Center in Seneca, S.C., and Greenville (N.C.) Health System have approved a non-binding letter of intent under which Oconee would join GHS.
Under the preliminary agreement, the affiliation could involve a lease of at least 50 years and full integration of the 169-bed hospital into GHS, according to a news release. Oconee would retain its own medical staff.
Oconee and GHS signed a memorandum of understanding in January to explore an affiliation. If the transaction is finalized, Oconee will become the seventh hospital within the health system. The Oconee board decided to explore integrating with GHS because it's a South Carolina-based organization with similar values and commitment to the health of the local population, according to the release.
"We are fortunate to have the opportunity to affiliate within our region with an organization of the caliber of Greenville Health System," Jeanne Ward, Oconee's president and CEO, said in the release. "By working together and sharing resources, we will be better able to improve the health of the communities we serve."
GHS and Oconee will perform due diligence pre-integration planning during the next two months. They expect to have a final agreement ready for consideration in June.
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