EAST LIVERPOOL – A “definitive agreement” for the acquisition of River Valley Health Partners – including East Liverpool City Hospital – has been signed between the local health agency and a nonprofit hospital system based in California.

In a press release issued Tuesday, RVHP officials announced RVHP and Prime Healthcare Foundation had signed the agreement, with the acquisition expected to close in the first quarter of 2016, pending regulatory review and closing conditions.

The agreement includes a commitment from Prime Healthcare Foundation to maintain inpatient services, strengthen physician recruitment, hire substantially all employees and to provide a multi-million dollar capital commitment over the next five years.

According to Pete Wicks, RVHP board of trustees president, “The mission of the Prime Health Foundation matches the long-term mission and vision of RVHP and we look forward to the future with great pride.”

Dr. Prem Reddy, chairman, president and CEO of Prime Healthcare Services, said RVHP has provided high quality health care to East Liverpool residents for more than a century, adding, “Through our acquisition of RVHP, we look forward to partnering with physicians, nurses, employees and the community to preserve this invaluable health care institution for generations to come.”

The Prime Healthcare Foundation is a nonprofit hospital system that operates seven hospitals in California and Texas. It is affiliated with Prime Healthcare Services, an award-winning hospital system with 38 acute care hospitals providing more than 40,000 jobs in 11 states.

Together, the two agencies are dedicated to providing the best quality care to the communities they serve and have been recognized among the 15 top health systems three times by Truven Health Analytics, according to officials.

River Valley Health Partners is a nonprofit corporation composed of East Liverpool City Hospital, a 152-bed acute care hospital, River Valley Physicians and Ohio Valley Home Health Services Inc.

An attempt to merge RVHP with Humility of Mary Health Partners failed in July of last year, after which the hospital closed its maternity ward along with other cost-cutting moves.

Nurses at the hospital ratified a new three-year contract in September of last year.