Family Physicians Group Inc. and Family Practice Specialty Center are exploring a merger, it was announced Monday.

The two medical groups have offices in Doctors' Park in Cape Girardeau.

Dr. Mark Kasten of Family Practice Specialty Center said a final decision on a merger probably won't occur for a number of months.

The groups said in a statement that they are considering merging "to create a better-organized and more efficient mode of health care delivery and thereby provide: improved quality of patient care, improved availability of patient care, improved access to services, more affordable patient care through improved operational efficiencies, and an improved physician recruitment platform."

A Minneapolis, Minn., consulting firm has been hired to assess what the statement refers to as an "important venture."

The groups also have hired a law firm to handle activities associated with the possible merger.