BLOOMINGTON - Carle Clinic-Bloomington/Normal's proposed acquisition by OSF Healthcare System has crossed a major hurdle after an overwhelming majority of Carle Clinic Association physicians endorsed the affiliation.

About 95 percent of Carle's 250 physician-owners voted to continue negotiations with OSF, the clinic's chief medical officer, Dr. Les Mathers, said Tuesday.

"The deal is not completed but it has passed a huge litmus test," Mathers said. Russ Rodriguez, clinic director of operations, said the vote authorizes the Carle board and officers to enter into agreements to complete the transaction.

Carle Clinic physician Dr. Bill Neil voted to affiliate with OSF because "it's a good deal for our patients."

Neil, who has been a Carle family medicine physician since 1985, said patients have been limited because Carle Clinic does not accept Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurance. Blue Cross/Blue Shield has become the largest health insurer in McLean County and acquisition by OSF would mean that the clinic would accept Blue Cross/Blue Shield, he said.

Last fall, Health Alliance Medical Plans said patients with Health Alliance could continue to see clinic physicians even if OSF acquired the clinic.

In addition, clinic patients could continue to use BroMenn Regional Medical Center in Normal as well as OSF St. Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington, Neil said. Where patients would go for hospitalization would depend on patient preference and insurance, he said.

OSF has said it will install an electronic medical record in the clinic and it would be connected to the electronic medical record to be installed at St. Joseph and OSF Medical Group offices, Neil said. Goals of electronic medical records are to improve efficiency, patient safety and consistency of care.

Affiliating with a Catholic health care institution would mean that clinic physicians could no longer perform vasectomies and tubal ligations, two birth control procedures, Neil said.

Rodriquez said "no employees will lose their positions as a result of this transition." Neil expects a large majority of clinic physicians to accept the offer to transition to OSF.

Urbana-based Carle Clinic Association is interested in selling the Bloomington clinic because it is an hour away and clinic patients are seldom admitted to Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, Neil said.

The multi-specialty clinic at 1701 E. College Ave., Bloomington, has 35 physicians and 172 employees.

The acquisition should take effect within five months, Mathers said. A new clinic name has not been determined.