Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Sanford Health and Bismarck, N.D.-based Mid Dakota Clinic, once rivals, have signed an agreement to combine operations "soon," according to The Bismarck Tribune.
Officials said Wednesday the integration process will continue through to next year, according to the report.
The merger will allow the organizations to increase the number of services they offer without affecting patient care, officials said. No staff cuts will result from the merger, though two to five physicians "may not stay with [Mid Dakota Clinic] when it transitions to Sanford," according to the report.
Officials said they aim to close the deal by July 1, pending regulatory approval.
Mid Dakota originally entered into negotiations with CHI St. Alexius Health, also in Bismarck, more than a year ago, according to the report. However, CHI St. Alexius ended the discussions for undisclosed reasons.
Once the deal fell through, Mid Dakota reached out to Sanford and negotiations began in fall 2016. Officials said they hoped to complete the deal by Dec. 31, 2016, though no plans came to fruition.
Sanford Health retains 45 hospitals and 289 clinics across nine states and three countries. Mid Dakota Clinic maintains 12 locations in the Bismarck area.