Willamette Falls Hospital in Oregon City has signed a letter of intent to merge into Providence Health & Services.

Financial terms are yet to be hammered out, but the deal could be

complete by February.

Providence would offer employment to all Willamette Falls employees.

Willamette Falls is one of the Portland region's last independent

hospitals.

Its chief executive, Russ Reinhard, says its board determined the merger

was the best way to achieve its goal of being the primary medical center for

Clackamas County.

Seattle-based Providence has Oregon's largest hospital system.

It has three hospitals and nearly three dozen clinics in and around

Portland, but did not have a presence in the heart of Clackamas County