It can be harmonious and without acrimony for the patients and staff of the health systems that come together. But it also can end badly, with a reduction in services, job losses, hospitals or offices closing, and higher prices because of less competition.

In the case of the proposed union between Southfield-based Beaumont Health and Grand Rapids-based Spectrum Health, it’s about as good a match as anyone could have wished for, Gordon said.

“Folks should be relieved — patients and employees,” he said, noting that Spectrum comes to the negotiations with a reputation for being well run and without major financial troubles. And because there is no market overlap between the health systems, there shouldn’t be much concern about hospitals closing, major job losses or antitrust issues to snarl the deal.