Baptist Memorial Health Care of Memphis and Mississippi Baptist Health Systems of Jackson, Mississippi, have completed their previously announced merger.
The two organizations said the deal makes the combined nonprofit health care system one of the largest in the country.
Baptist Memorial has 17 hospitals in Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee. In Arkansas, it owns NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital in Jonesboro, and it's currently building a 50,000-SF, $25 million hospital in Crittenden County to open sometime in the first half of 2018.
Baptist Memorial and Mississippi Baptist began discussing the merging in September.
''This merger will have a significant impact on health care and our communities,'' said Jason Little, president and CEO of Baptist Memorial Health Care. ''By combining our resources, we can invest more heavily in our team members, facilities and equipment, which will result in greater access to new technologies, best practices and medical specialists. Ultimately, this merger is about elevating and expanding the care we provide to our communities in Mississippi and beyond.''
Founded in 1911, Mississippi Baptist Health Systems has a medical staff that includes about 600 board-certified physicians in more than 50 medical specialties. It employs more than 3,700 people.
Founded in 1912, Baptist Memorial has more than 4,000 affiliated physicians and employs more than 13,000 people. Baptist is scheduled to open a new $300 million hospital in Oxford, Mississippi, later this year.
Officials told the Associated Press that no layoffs are planned.
