Landmark merger talks move ahead

PROVIDENCE—The financially struggling Landmark Medical Center in Woonsocket says it’s pursuing merger discussions with the Caritas Christi Health Care chain of Catholic hospitals.

Requests for a hospital merger must be submitted to the state health department and approved by the attorney general’s office.

Gov. Don Carcieri praised the proposed merger, saying it was good news for residents of northern Rhode Island and that Landmark’s 1,200 jobs needs to be preserved.

Caritas Christi is New England’s second-largest hospital network and is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston.