On Monday, the long mating dance between Akron General Health System and the Cleveland Clinic was consummated, following approval by the Ohio Attorney General and the Federal Trade Commission.

“This is a momentous day for health care in Ohio,” Dr. Toby Cosgrove, president and CEO of Cleveland Clinic, said in a statement. “We are pleased to welcome Akron General into our health system and we look forward to developing and expanding services and enhancing access for patients throughout Northeast Ohio.”

The Akron General Health System – including Akron General Medical Center, Lodi Community Hospital, the Edwin Shaw Rehabilitation Institute, three Health & Wellness centers, the Justin T. Rogers Hospice Care Center, Partners Physician Group (PPG), and Visiting Nurse Service and Affiliates – will now become part of Cleveland Clinic.

The two organizations began courting in 2014, when they announced a formal affiliation, according to WKSU, Kent State University’s public radio station. At that time, Thomas “Tim” Stover, president of Akron General, told the station that the new health care landscape was leading to mergers and acquisitions. “Even a system our size was going to have a hard time making it. And what’s really happened in the last 18 months is all those things that were predicted to occur by 2017 are already happening. The majority of the money that’s being ‘saved’ or bending the cost-curve is coming from the provider side. So teaming up with a larger entity, everyone across the country is thinking that’s the only way to deal with reform.”

The Cleveland Clinic became a minority owner of Akron General in 2015, for about $100 million, according to Cleveland.com. "We will be investing in this community," Cosgrove, told the news organization at the time. "This is not about buildings. It's about a commitment to the community and providing high-quality affordable care."

The arrangement also gave an option to the Cleveland Clinic to acquire Akron General, which it subsequently exercised. Cleveland Clinic will also take over Akron's debt — $156.3 million as of March 31. In addition the Clinic will also put about $30 million or more into improvements in the next year, Ann Huston, the Cleveland Clinic’s chief strategy officer, told Ohio.com.

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