Hospitals across Massachusetts looking to the future come to one common conclusion. Bigger isn’t just better, it’s essential. Two hospitals — both about 35 miles outside ­Boston — are looking for bigger medical partners and expected to make decisions soon.

Lawrence General Hospital is looking for a clinical partner, and I’m told the the contenders are Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Tufts Medical Center, Partners HealthCare, and Lahey Clinic in Burlington.