South Bend Clinic and Beacon Health merge

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- A new merger between the South Bend Clinic and Beacon Health Systems hopes to give better access to health care for people in Michiana.

Beacon Health was created last year through a merger of Memorial Hospital and Elkhart General.

Health care reform measures played a large role in the health system's creation.

Now officials say the addition of the South Bend Clinic is the next logical step towards better health care services in Michiana.

"Communication between specialty lines is critical for the care of new patients who have multiple chronic conditions in some cases," said the Chairman of Beacon Medical Group, Dr. Vincent Henderson.

The merger is not a done deal yet. It still needs to be reviewed and approved by the Federal Trade Commission. That is expected to happen later this year.