BOLINGBROOK — Provena Health and Resurrection Health Care are on their way to merging into Illinois' largest Catholic health care system.

The Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board, a state regulatory panel, approved the merger of the two systems Wednesday in a unanimous 8-0 vote.

The merger is expected to be finalized Nov. 1, according to Mokena-based Provena and Chicago-based Resurrection.

Along with forming the single largest Catholic health care system in Illinois, Provena and Resurrection executives say their two systems will also together form one of the state's largest integrated health systems with $2.6 billion in operating revenues, 22,000 employees and 5,000 physicians.

Together, the two systems operate 12 hospitals, including Provena's two hospitals in Urbana and Danville, plus 28 long-term care and senior residential facilities, more than 50 primary and specialty care clinics and six home health agencies.

Resurrection spokesman Brian Crawford said patients won't notice much of a difference come Nov. 1, though a new name for the merged organization will eventually appear on the buildings.

"We do not have a name. We hope to have one within the next several weeks," he said. "The sponsoring sisters are leading the efforts at naming."

The new merged organization is sponsored by the five religious orders of Catholic nuns.

Crawford said one thing both Provena and Resurrection do intend for patients to notice is a major goal behind the merger — providing better service and responsiveness "not that we don't try to do those things already."

Sandra Bruce, president and CEO of the new organization, expressed appreciation to the state board for its work on the merger application and hearings.

"We enthusiastically now turn our full attention to creating a strong Catholic health ministry driven by mission and focused entirely on collaborating with our physicians, staff and our communities to deliver patient, resident and family-centered care that is high in quality and value," she said in an emailed statement.