Pima County will continue its partnership with Banner-University Medical Center South through June 2019, renewing its contract for $15 million annually and funding University of Arizona College of Medicine’s Graduate Medical Education Program.

The county’s board of supervisors voted 4-1 in favor of maintaining the partnership, which directly supports Banner-UMC South’s operations and serves to strengthen the health care workforce, according to an announcement.

“Banner UMC South is a critical partner to ensure the health and wellness of this community,” Jan Lesher, chief deputy county administrator, said in the announcement. “The partnership has allowed us to reduce costs while improving quality of care.”

The facility has evolved into a full-service hospital over the past decade, providing emergency, acute, surgical and clinical services and contributing to the University of Arizona graduate medical education program’s growth.

“We are so honored to partner with Pima County in serving Southern Arizona’s health-care needs at Banner-University Medical Center South,” Tom Dickson, CEO of Banner-UMC South and its sister hospital, Banner-UMC Tucson, said in the announcement. “Banner Health is grateful for Pima County’s continued confidence in and support of our efforts to provide excellent clinical care for our community while training the next generation Arizona physicians.”

Banner-UMC South, formerly known as University of Arizona Medical Center-South Campus, provides medical care while teaching aspiring professionals and performing innovative research for Arizona’s residents and others from its Tucson campus.