ITHACA, NY (607NewsNow) — Two local medical groups are merging.

Cayuga Health and Arnot Health are becoming Centralus Health. The combined organization will have 6,500 employees.

“[The merger] makes all healthcare more available,” said Arnot Health Board of Directors Chairman Jan van den Blink.

Logo for Centralus Health

In addition, Cayuga Health Board of Directors Chairman Tom LiVigne said the partnership will help people pinpoint care.

“Sometimes it’s a little difficult to find a doctor, but now we think it’s going to be easier to do that,” he said.

Centralus Health will serve patients in the Finger Lakes, Southern Tier, and Central New York regions.