Evansville health care groups might merge

Deaconess Health System in Evansville might buy Welborn Clinic, which has nine locations in Evansville and surrounding counties, according to the Evansville Courier & Press.

Neither side confirmed the merger, but one Deaconess official said talks of a sale have been ongoing.

The clinic has about 650 employees, including physicians.

Deaconess employs more than 3,000 and operates five hospitals in the southwestern part of the state. Deaconess also has a freestanding cancer center, a physician practice group with 14 ambulatory sites and two urgent care facilities.