Provena Health and Resurrection Health Care have agreed to merge to create the single largest Catholic health care provider in Illinois.

The Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board will have to approve the merger. The two health care systems have been in exploratory talks since February.

"It is expected to go before the board in October at the earliest," Provena spokesperson Lisa Lagger said on Tuesday.

Provena Health includes Provena Mercy Medical Center in Aurora, Provena Geneva Care Center in Geneva, Provena Pine View Care Center in St. Charles and Provena Saint Joseph Hospital in Elgin. Resurrection Health Care has facilities in several communities, including Chicago, Des Plaines and Danville.

The board in March approved a merger between Delnor and Central DuPage health systems. Lagger said the merger will provide easier access to services. The new system encompasses 12 hospitals, 28 long-term care and senior residential facilities, more than 50 primary and specialty care clinics and six home health agencies.

More than 4.5 million people live in areas served by Provena and Resurrection, primarily in Aurora, Chicago, Danville, Des Plaines, Elgin, Joliet, Kankakee, Rockford, Urbana and Avilla, Ind.

The system will be the single largest Catholic health care network in Illinois and one of the largest integrated health systems in the state, with nearly $3 billion in operating revenues.

The new system will offer an array of clinical programs, such as advanced acute care hospitals, extensive outpatient services, comprehensive behavioral health programs, home care, hospice care and long term care facilities.

In addition, the system includes Resurrection University, a fully-accredited, nonprofit Catholic-based specialty school for health sciences.