St. Lawrence Health System and Rochester Regional Health have obtained all regulatory approvals and finalized their affiliation.

SLHS owns and operates Canton-Potsdam, Massena and Gouverneur hospitals.

This affiliation will allow St. Lawrence to maintain local control, but it will give St. Lawrence access to Rochester Regional’s sophisticated electronic health record system and its innovative population health management programs. In addition, Rochester Regional has agreed to invest in capital improvements and to assist with recruiting and retaining physicians in the North Country, according to a news release from SLHS.

“This relationship with Rochester Regional will allow St. Lawrence Health System to continue to elevate the standard of care delivered throughout St. Lawrence County,” St. Lawrence Health System President David Acker said in a prepared statement. “The lengthy and collaborative due diligence approval process allowed both health systems to fully appreciate the synergies that exist, and to confirm our shared vision for bringing the highest quality healthcare to those who need it.”

“Everyone served by St. Lawrence should expect to receive the same familiar care and quality for which we are known,” Acker said.