Allscripts, a health-care technology company with a major operation in the Triangle, is buying one of its top rivals for $1.3 billion.

The Chicago-based company announced this morning that it's merging with Eclipsys, another publicly traded company. The combined company will employ more than 5,500 workers, including more than 1,000 at its North Raleigh offices.

Allscripts is continuing to expand its local offices, but it's unclear whether the union will lead to local layoffs in the future. Allscripts expects to save more than $100 million during the next three years as the companies combine operations.  

Allscripts makes electronic medical records software used by doctors and medical offices to track patient health, check drug interactions and make health care decisions. Eclipsys technology is used by hospitals and clinicians.

By joining forces, the combined company hopes to to tap $30 billion in federal stimulus funds aimed at increasing adoption of electronic medical records. The new company will provide software and services to more than 180,000 doctors, 1,500 hospitals and 10,000 nursing homes.