But at a time when the nation's hospital mergers have produced less savings than expected, many view the union as particularly empty, if not cantankerous.

The shortage is a result of hospital mergers, layoffs and heavy workloads.

Like the merger of the two colleges, the hospital merger did not happen either.

In the past, the commission has tried, largely unsuccessfully, to persuade federal courts to stop hospital mergers.

Across the country, there is a growing debate about whether hospital mergers have benefited the public.

That, in turn, helped spur a wave of hospital mergers and ward closings.

As with any hospital merger, part of the purpose is to reduce costs by eliminating overlapping functions, and layoffs are always a possibility.

That in turn has caused widespread hospital mergers and the closing of hospital beds.

One factor in this is the growth in hospital mergers.

The pledge of up to $100 million could set a pattern for other hospital mergers, affiliations and joint ventures.