BANGOR – St. Joseph Hospital will begin performing diagnostic cardiac catheterizations in the near future, thanks to an agreement that has been reached with Eastern Maine Medical Center.

Identical joint news releases issued by both hospitals early Wednesday evening stated that Maine’s Department of Human Services has approved St. Joseph’s catheterization lab application as a result of the hospitals’ agreement.

The arrangement apparently ends a contentious three-year saga involving St. Joseph’s proposal to open a cardiac catheterization laboratory amid objections from EMMC, which has been operating a catheterization lab since 1987.

While EMMC contended that services at St. Joseph would be duplicative, St. Joseph countered that it could do the procedure more cheaply and wouldn’t have to transfer patients across town.

EMMC had filed a lawsuit challenging St. Joseph’s opening of a catheterization lab. A Superior Court judge ruled earlier this month that DHS could hold a public hearing requested by EMMC on St. Joseph’s proposal.

Now, since the hospitals have settled this difference, a hearing is no longer necessary.

Wednesday’s news releases offered no details about the nature of the agreement, nor did they give any explanation about whether EMMC had withdrawn its objection.

On Wednesday night officials declined to shed much light on the surprising turn of events. Reading from a prepared statement, EMMC spokesman Tom Lander said the hospitals were pleased that the agreement had been reached.

“We wish to respect the confidential nature of the situation by saying nothing more at this time. And we expect that St. Joseph Hospital will likewise honor the confidential agreement,” he said.

The releases stated that “St. Joseph Hospital and Eastern Maine Medical Center anticipate that St. Joseph Hospital will begin performing diagnostic catheterizations in the near future. With ever-increasing volumes of cardiac catheterizations being performed nationwide, St. Joseph Hospital and Eastern Maine Medical Center believe their agreement will help meet the needs of patients coming to Bangor for cardiovascular procedures.”

EMMC attorney Bernard Kubetz said Wednesday night that discussions had been under way since June and that the agreement was completed last week. As part of the bargain, EMMC withdrew its request for a public hearing, Kubetz said.

Describing the agreement as constructive, Kubetz said, “EMMC believes it’s in the best interest of the community to have reached a resolution.”

Kubetz said he notified DHS’ Certificate of Need Unit on Wednesday, after which DHS Commissioner Kevin Concannon issued the letter approving St. Joseph’s application.