In an attempt to get Johnson Memorial Corp. "out of the woods," officials are negotiating with Fairfield, CT-based Paradigm Physician Partners, which promises to upgrade the hospital with new technology and business operations. The Connecticut-based Johnson Memorial filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in November. John Pierro, a partner at Paradigm, is to become the permanent chief executive officer of Johnson when the partnership goes into effect. The Johnson network, which cared for nearly 100,000 patients in 2008, includes the hospital, nursing homes and several other medical treatment facilities.