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WellStar Health System announced Tuesday that it had agreed to buy Tenet Healthcare’s five metro Atlanta hospitals for $575 million. The deal, if approved by regulators, would make Marietta-based WellStar easily the largest health system in the state of Georgia. (Miller, 12/1)

Hospital systems in Florida are expanding through mergers, acquisitions, new facilities and partnerships, according to Florida Health Market Review 2015, the 13th report of its kind by independent Minnesota-based analyst Allan Baumgarten. Not surprisingly, Florida Hospital and Orlando Health dominate health care delivery in Central Florida, according to the report, which was compiled using public data and interviews with market leaders. (Miller, 12/1)

You won't find Dr. Pepper in United Hospital waiting rooms beginning Jan. 1 -- not unless it's the diet version of the soft drink or an actual doctor named Pepper. Allina Health announced Tuesday that in 2016 it will no longer offer sugar-sweetened beverages or deep-fried foods in its cafeterias, vending machines and other food service areas. That includes United Hospital in St. Paul along with the 12 other hospitals and 90 clinics in its system. (DeLage, 12/1)