GREENSBURG, Pa. —

A Western Pennsylvania-based hospital group will join the West Virginia University Health System.

The deal announced Wednesday would bring Frick, Latrobe and Westmoreland hospitals in Westmoreland County; Butler Memorial Hospital; and Clarion Hospital under the WVU Medicine brand beginning next fall. Advertisement

“We see this as a chance to expand our brand and opportunities,” West Virginia University President Michael Benson said. “I think people are going to see, in a relatively short amount of time, some great improvements. If you take patients to one of our hospitals or clinics, they’re going to see the quality of care improve dramatically. It was good before, but now it’ll be better.”

The hospitals are currently part of Independence Health System, which was for

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