Gwinnett Health System and Northside Hospital have agreed to merge, the two healthcare providers announced Wednesday.

The newly combined health system could be operational as soon as early 2018, according to a release from the two healthcare providers. The hospital systems have filed their proposed merger agreement with the Georgia Attorney General’s office.

The planned merger was initially announced in 2015.

Northside has hospitals in Atlanta, Cherokee County and Forsyth County. The Gwinnett Health System has Gwinnett Medical Center campuses in Duluth and Lawrenceville. The hospitals expect to have nearly 21,000 employees and 3,500 physicians once the merger is complete.

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