Jaspin, Ind.-based Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center finalized an affiliation settlement with Evansville, Ind.-based Deaconess Health, which turned efficient Feb. 1.

Discussions between MHHCC and Deaconess began in July, with the official settlement approval obtained from the Vatican on Jan. 19, which allowed the affiliation and for MHHCC to stay a Catholic healthcare facility, in keeping with a information launch shared with Becker’s. 

“As we transition through the coming months and years, our collective plan is to grow services,  expand care and continue to deliver care locally,” E. Kyle Bennett, president and CEO of  Memorial Hospital, stated within the launch. 

MHHCC will even proceed working with a board of native administrators. 

Deaconess contains 18 fully-owned, joint ventures, affiliated or sponsored hospitals throughout Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky, in keeping with its website.