St. Joseph's Hospital joining nation's second-largest Catholic health system

St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center is joining the nation's second-largest Catholic health care system in a move designed to improve its position in the rapidly changing health care industry. The hospital announced it is aligning itself with CHE Trinity Health, a nonprofit that provides care through 82 hospitals and 89 other health facilities in 21 states nationwide. CHE Trinity Health will replace the Sisters of St. Francis, who founded St. Joe's in 1869, as the local hospital's sponsor. "We wanted to choose a partner who could take us to the next level," said Kathryn Ruscitto, St. Joe's president and CEO.