Madison-based UW Health and UnityPoint Health-Meriter, also in Madison, finalized their joint operating agreement July 1.
Under the agreement, both organizations will remain independent. However, UW Health will lead the integration of the hospitals' finances, clinical operations and strategy.
UnityPoint Health-Meriter will remain a senior affiliate of West Des Moines, Iowa-based UnityPoint Health, but will update its signage to include UW Health.
The organizations have maintained an unofficial partnership for more than 50 years. The institutions signed letters of intent to explore a joint operating agreement in July 2016, and received regulatory approval in April.