UPDATE: Beth Israel Deaconness to Take Over Jordan Hospital

Updated at 3:40 p.m.

The union representing nearly 700 employees at Jordan Hospital issued a statement this afternoon regarding the planned acquisition.

Jerry Fishbein, vice president of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, said union members "will be vigilant during the process" and will encourage "investments in patient services, the hospital, and its employees....It is vital that there is a transparent process while the community assesses whether or not the proposed acquisition will bolster the security of health-care services for the Plymouth area."

Updated at 2:18 p.m.

Jordan Hospital officials have confirmed that a letter of intent was signed with Beth Israel Deaconess.

In a release, Peter Holden, Jordan Health Systems President and CEO, said Jordan selected BIDMC, "After a comprehensive review and analysis of several affiliation opportunities, we chose BIDMC because our mutual interests are best aligned to fulfill the mission, values and vision of Jordan Hospital and the local communities we serve."

Jordan spokesman Christopher Smalley said that when a deal is finalized that Jordan expects to "provide more services to more people."

He would not comment about any changes to staffing.

Clark Hinkley, chairman of Jordan's coard of trustees said the deal will provide "long-term financial stability without sacrificing who we are and what we believe in."

"This decision was not just about finances. It was about finding a healthcare affiliation that gives us the scale we need to compete in an ever-changing environment and ensure that local care will stay just that…local."

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Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center is set to disclose Thursday that it has signed a letter of intent to acquire Jordan Health Systems Inc., the parent of 155-bed Jordan Hospital in Plymouth, one of the last remaining independent community hospitals in Massachusetts, according to this article on Boston.com.

Jordan Hospital officials have yet to confirm the deal, which would end Jordan's affiliation with Tufts Medical Center, the Globe says.

The deal would not affect Jordan Hospital's current management, nor its nonprofit status. It's unclear whether Jordan will take the Harvard-affilated teaching hospital's name, as community hospital affiliates in Milton and Needham have.

If the deal goes through, it would further fill out the Beth Israel Deaconess network, which now includes its own physicians group as well as Atrius Health, a Newton-based chain of doctors groups including Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates. Beth Israel Deaconess also has a clinical affiliation with Hebrew SeniorLife and is negotiating affiliations with Cambridge Health Alliance and Signature Healthcare in Brockton, which operates the 253-bed Brockton Hospital.

The alliance is a blow to Tufts Medical Center, another Boston teaching hospital that has a clinical affiliation with Jordan and had made its own offer to acquire the Plymouth hospital in partnership with for-profit Vanguard Health Systems. Jordan officials had also talked with other potential buyers, including for-profit Steward Health Care System.

Patch will have updates as we learn more about this deal and how it will affect staff and care.