He said the walkout was expected to grow today to 230,000 workers, similar to levels before the holiday, as some hospital and broadcasting employees join.

But if the hospitals do not join the emergency program voluntarily, state regulations could require them to take part.

But many hurdles remain before the two academic hospitals can join.

First, several hospitals and medical institutions join together to invite tenders.

In 2012, the hospital joined the Texas Medical Center as its 50th member institution.

Analysts say that the more hospitals join, the greater the economies for Baxter.

In 1948 the hospital joined the National Health Service freeing up the patients to the outside world as never before.

It calls for letting the system's three hospitals join health-care networks and negotiate with union staff members.

And when major hospitals join forces, it is often simple arithmetic that some department heads must fall.

Patients rarely have any idea that their hospital has joined with another, because each has kept its own name.