The process could take years if Conemaugh Health System and U.P.M.C. agree a merger can work. A representative of Conemaugh tells Channel 6 News this is merely a "jumping off point". With the letter, Conemaugh and U.P.M.C. can exchange information on confidential financial records, equipment, buildings, and so forth. No decisions have been made on what would happen to places you may use or equipment the hospitals share. Conemaugh continues to say that more jobs would be lost without a merger because Johnstown can not support two hospitals.

Amy Bradley is the spokesperson for Conemaugh Health System. She tells Channel 6 News, "All along our Board of Directors has felt it would be a good idea for the hospitals to come together in some sort of merger so there's not duplication of services. They believe it's gonna be better for the community. But there's a lot of detail to get through to see if this could work."

Staff and patients at U.P.M.C. Lee Regional Hospital are asking what happens to them when, and if, U.P.M.C. merges with Conemaugh? One couple, Charles and Susan Graham, have been patients of Lee Regional Hospital for years. Susan was even a patient with Conemaugh as a young girl. The news of a possible merger leaves them with different opinions but a lot of questions. What's going to happen to them as patients? What's going to happen to hospital staff and their benefits? Where will the staff go? The Grahams say they both like going to Lee. It feels like home to them. Another big concern is would they be able to use their insurance?

Charles Graham tells Channel 6 News, "One hospital won't take it and the other hospital will. I hope they'll merge and say, Well, we accept them all and it'd be good for Johnstown if it did."

Susan Graham disagrees, "It's just scary. Some changes are good and some changes aren't good and you wonder if this change is gonna be good. Are we really gonna benefit from it? And we really won't know until it happens."

The merger, if it does happen, could take years. Right now, hospital officials on both sides are trying to decide if it's feasible.