Butler Health System and Heritage Valley Health System in Beaver County today announced an agreement to provide select physician subspecialty services.

The 50/50 joint venture, BHS/HVHS Multispecialty Group, will have as its first subspecialty practice — PA Brain & Spine Institute, a Partnership of Butler Health and Heritage Valley.

Beginning Dec. 1, the partnership in neurosurgery will provide care to patients with neurosurgical needs, according to a news release from the two health systems.

Under Dr. Michael Horowitz and Dr. Richard Spiro, health issues that can be treated include spinal anomalies and degenerative disease, central and peripheral nervous system concerns, and cerebrovascular disorders including stroke, cranial nerve disorders and hydrocephalus.

Norm Mitry, Heritage Valley president and CEO, said, “We have had an excellent relationship with Butler Health System for many years and this new partnership is another way independent health systems are working together to provide comprehensive care and outstanding outcomes to our patients ...”

Ken DeFurio, BHS president and CEO, said, “Heritage Valley Health System and BHS are lower-cost, high-quality providers. This partnership makes good sense clinically and economically.”

The Butler Health System has provided advanced neurosurgery care under Horowitz and Spiro since 2013.

The PA Brain & Spine Institute has an office at Butler Health System, 480 E. Jefferson St., Butler. As of Dec. 1, that office will move to 127 Oneida Valley Road.

The practice will also have a location at Heritage Valley Beaver, 1000 Dutch Ridge Road, Beaver.

The Butler Health System has a medical staff of more than 300 physicians, nearly 30 diagnostic testing locations and 4 urgent care centers. It serves Butler County along with Allegheny, Armstrong, Clarion, Lawrence and Venango counties.

Heritage Valley is a $480 million network serving Allegheny, Beaver, Butler and Lawrence counties, in Pennsylvania; eastern Ohio; and the panhandle of West Virginia. It has 3,700 employees and more than 480 physicians

Heritage Valley has two hospitals, Heritage Valley Sewickley and Heritage Valley Beaver, 60 physician offices, and 18 satellite facilities.