Henry Ford and Beaumont health systems confirmed at a news conference yesterday a merger into a single, $6.4B nonprofit entity. The deal would combine 10 hospitals and 200 patient care sites. The reason is that the hospital systems would be better positioned to face changes in healthcare. In yesterday's news conference, the CEOs from both Henry Ford and Beaumont sought to calm fears that the merger would result in sweeping layoffs, the closure of facilities or downsizing of the medical schools.