Butler Health System and Clarion Healthcare System announced Wednesday in a joint press release that the two healthcare systems signed an exclusive letter of intent to merge the Clarion network and its affiliates into BHS.

Clarion Healthcare System is made up of four affiliates, all located in Clarion, Pa., including Clarion Hospital, a 70-bed facility providing 24-hour emergency services, among other features.

“The Clarion Healthcare System Board, with all of us being from the local community, care deeply about the availability of high quality health care close to home for the people of Clarion County and the surrounding communities and were intent on finding the best path to sustain those services long into the future,” Fred Port, CHS board chairman, said of the merger.

Butler Health System is the parent of Butler Memorial Hospital, its affiliates and a number of subsidiaries.

Butler Memorial Hospital is a 326-bed acute-care facility with a broad range of surgical, medical, emergency and psychiatric services.

“We are very pleased that the leadership of Clarion Healthcare System has decided to partner with us,” said Ken DeFurio, president and CEO of Butler Health System. “We look forward to a very successful future together.”