Meridian Health, the parent company of Stafford Township’s Southern Ocean Medical Center, announced last week it has signed a letter of intent to explore a merger with the Raritan Bay Medical Center.

A due diligence process, during which financial, clinical and legal issues will be explored, will now commence, lasting approximately four months. If all goes well, as expected, the two not-for-profits will then sign a definitive agreement and submit to regulatory review.