Ernie Bovio, president and chief executive of High Point Regional, said the systems have not progressed in their talks to discussing potential impacts on their work forces. Wake Forest Baptist has 14,600 employees and 1,159 hospital beds systemwide; High Point Regional has 2,500 employees and 351 beds.

“The intent is to create clinical jobs in High Point through adding services here,” Bovio said.

Bovio called the ownership change “an important step for the long-term growth and future of High Point Regional.”

High Point Regional joined UNC Health Care in early 2013, with both systems saying the realities of the increasing cost of providing health care made the merger economically sensible.

At that time, High Point Regional officials spent seven months pursuing proposals from health care systems in the state. Wake Forest Baptist confirmed at that time it did not submit a proposal.

UNC Health Care provided $150 million for capital improvements to High Point Regional and $50 million for the establishment of a community health fund.