Two of the largest healthcare staffing firms in the US are combining. Medical Solutions announced plans on Monday to acquire C&A Industries Inc., the parent company of Aureus Medical Group.

“The combined organization would have the potential to become the fourth-largest healthcare staffing company in the US,” said Amy Chang, Staffing Industry Analysts’ healthcare analyst.

The acquisition of C&A would further solidify Medical Solutions’ delivery of MSP and workforce solutions capabilities, as well as expand its staffing specialties to include allied health, advanced practice, and interim health leader staffing, Chang said.

Medical Solutions ranked as the fourth-largest provider of travel nurse staffing in the US in 2018, and it has a managed service provider offering as well.

Aureus Medical Group last year ranked as the second-largest provider of allied healthcare staffing in the US and as the seventh-largest provider of travel nurse staffing.

Both firms are based in Omaha, Nebraska, and plans call for C&A to continue operating out of its existing headquarters.

Terms of the transaction were not announced. However, the deal is expected to close by the end of this quarter and it’s subject to customary closing conditions.

Private equity firm TPG Growth, owner of Medical Solutions, will continue to be an active partner with the combined companies going forward. TPG acquired Medical Solutions in June 2017.

C&A was founded in 1969 with a focus on recruiting for engineering positions. Chairman and owner Larry Courtnage started the company in the basement of a home.

“C&A Industries represents my life’s work and entrepreneurial vision that began just over 50 years ago,” Courtnage said. The alignment of the companies will create more opportunity for their customers, he added.

In addition to its Aureus Medical Group Healthcare staffing division, C&A has several other divisions, including:

• Aureus Group, a provider of finance and IT staffing as well as executive search
• AurStaff, which specializes in industrial, technical and engineering staffing
• Celebrity Staff, which handles administrative, management and legal staffing
• FocusOne Solutions, a nonstaffing division that serves as a managed services and software provider
• AurTravel, travel agency (nonstaffing)
• AurHomes, a provider of corporate housing (nonstaffing)

“We are very excited to carry on the legacy and tradition of what C&A Industries has built over the past 50 years,” said Craig Meier, CEO of Medical Solutions. The deal will enhance service offerings and expand its pool of healthcare and nonclinical professionals, Meier said.

In addition to both being based in Omaha, both firms also appeared on the 2018 List of Fastest-Growing Staffing Firms. Medical Solutions also appeared on this year’s Best Staffing Firms to Work For list.

The deal follows Medical Solutions’ February 2018 acquisition of PPR, a provider of travel nurse staffing and interim leadership for acute and post-acute markets.