Boston Medical Center and Tufts Medical Center have announced that their merger talks have broken off.
In a joint statement Wednesday, hospital leaders said integrating two large teaching hospitals would have been a "complex task" and it was "best for our medical centers to remain separate," but open to future collaboration.
The hospitals were apparently unable to overcome differences in culture, mission, and strategies for the future.
Officials say Tufts wanted to focus on expanding its base of commercial patients. BMC wanted to remain focused on its position as a safety-net hospital.
Both hospitals struggled financially.
Experts say there is a nationwide trend away from mergers because of antitrust concerns.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
