Leaders from UnityPoint Health and Memorial Hospital, an 18-bed critical access hospital in Carthage, Ill., today announced a formal affiliation beginning July 1. The two organizations “will expand on their commitment to provide high quality, affordable health care at a local level,” the West Des Moines-based health system said in a release. Also included in the affiliation will be Memorial Medical Clinics, Sherrick Home Health and Hancock County Senior Services. “We believe this affiliation will assist in providing better patient care coordination across southeast Iowa and west central Illinois,” UnityPoint Health President and CEO Kevin Vermeer said in a statement. “We have a great deal of respect for the long tradition of care Memorial Hospital has in the community and knew they would be a good fit with UnityPoint Health.”