Ocala, Fla.-based Munroe Regional Medical Center's board of directors has approved an affiliation between the hospital and the Surgery Center of Ocala (Fla.).

As a result of the affiliation, Munroe Regional will become an owner of the surgery center. The surgery center will then have three owners: Munroe Regional Medical Center, Symbion Healthcare and OcalaSurg. Symbion will handle day-to-day operations.

The transaction will be effective before the new year.