NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (AP) — The Great Plains Regional Medical Center in North Platte plans to work with eight other hospitals in Nebraska to reduce expenses and improve quality.

Under the plan eight hospitals would create a board with two representatives from each hospital. The board would then create a company, which would coordinate the sharing of resources.

Great Plains Regional’s CEO Greg Nielsen says that could include joint purchasing of supplies and sharing of best practices — the preferred methods in the medical industry for treating a particular ailment.

Bryan Health in Lincoln, The Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, the Methodist Health System in Omaha and Regional West Health Services in Scottsbluff are considering the plan along with hospitals in Columbus, Norfolk, Fremont and Hastings.