Northside Hospital and Gwinnett Medical Center, two large hospitals serving metro Atlanta, are discussing the possibility of combining their operations.

The two hospitals announced this week that they approved a non-binding letter of intent to hold exclusive discussions about the potential merger.

If the deal goes through, it could go into effect as early as 2016. The resulting healthcare system would consist of approximately 1,400 beds, 16,000 employees and 3,500 physicians. Besides the two primary hospitals--Northside Hospital in Sandy Springs, Ga., and Gwinnett Medical Center in Lawrenceville, Ga.--the merger would also include three other hospitals and numerous imaging centers, cancer treatment centers, urgent care centers and medical office buildings.

“A Northside Hospital and Gwinnett Medical Center combination is a strong and strategic fit on many levels,” Bob Quattrocchi, Northside CEO, said in a statement. “We come to the table with very similar organizational cultures and unsurpassed commitments to patient safety and quality care. Northside and Gwinnett Medical Center already are geographic neighbors, and together we will serve one of the fastest-growing markets in the country.”

Philip Wolfe, Gwinnett Medical Center CEO, agrees that the two hospitals are a good fit.

“Our service offerings complement each other,” Wolfe said in the same statement. “Northside Hospital is a regional and national leader in women’s health and cancer care, while Gwinnett Medical Center is a leader in cardiac care, trauma care and sports medicine. Going forward, our strategy will be to leverage our respective strengths in our expanded footprint and provide the total spectrum of health care to patients not only in our market area, but throughout Georgia and the Southeast.”