LATHAM — Two independent medical groups announced their intent to merge Friday morning. Although the consolidation must first be approved by the government, the two organizations — Community Care Physicians and CapitalCare Medical Group — are touting this an opportunity to connect more practices to a wider range of specialties.

The title of the group will be Capital/Community Care Physicians, or CCP, said Alexis Musto, Marketing Manager for Community Care Physicians.

Community Care Physicians, PC, is the largest independent multispecialty medical group in the Capital Region, with 37 practices spread out over Fulton, Warren, Schenectady, Saratoga, Albany, and Rensselaer counties. CapitalCare Medical Group, LLC, is an independent multispecialty medical group with 30 practices in Albany, Schenectady, Rensselaer, and Saratoga counties. The group currently has practices in Guilderland, New Scotland, and Berne.

Musto said that the merger would increase access to health services, which is one of the reasons that the companies have decided to consolidate. The merger, she said, would offer a wide range of specialists.

“If you need a primary-care person and then a surgical consultation...we’re under one roof,” said Musto.

CapitalCare Medical Group has specialties not offered within Community Care Physicians, according to a press release on the merger, but Community Care Physicians offers a broader base of services, with over 20 different specialty services compared to CapitalCare Medical Group’s 10.

Both companies use technology to their advantage, said Musto. CapitalCare Medical Group uses Telecare, which allows nurses to gather data via monitors in the room. Community Care Physicians is planning to launch an app called VICA, a virtual care app.

“We both value innovation and improving communication,” said Musto.

She added that the groups also have a similar structure, both being independent multispecialty groups.

“This consolidation makes sense,” she said. “There really aren’t too many differences.

The next step in consolidating is conducting due diligence, which includes looking into the various operations of the two groups. There are also various steps of approval by the government, said Musto.

There is no definitive date of consolidation, said Musto, but she added that, as the process goes along, more information on the end date will be available.

Musto said that, besides rebranding the company, there wouldn’t be too many differences seen by patients, and that patients would keep their doctor and the location of their practice would stay the same. She said there would not be major workforce changes in the near future.

Musto added that both groups have worked with area hospitals and insurance companies, and there will be no changes to insurance coverage.

The headquarters of the company will be in Latham. Dr. Shirish Parikh —  founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Community Care Physicians — will serve as CEO and chairman of the board of CCP, and Joan Hayner — chief operating officer of CapitalCare — will be president and COO of CCP.