CHI Franciscan Health's St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma, Wash., is celebrating its 125th anniversary this October.
On Oct. 11, 1891, members of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia founded St. Joseph Hospital, the first Catholic hospital in Tacoma.
Since then, much has changed. While the hospital treated an average of 250 patients per year in its early days, it now admits thousands of patients and conducts more than 15,500 operations per year. In 1940, St. Joseph opened a 34-bed pediatric unit, and today nearly 4,200 babies are born each year at the hospital.
"Our Sisters established a tradition of care that has enriched Tacoma for more than a century. Our commitment is to deliver compassionate, quality care to all those in need in every facet of our organization, from emergencies to cancer or heart care to the birth of a child," said CHI Franciscan Health CEO Ketul Patel.
St. Joseph Medical Center has been recognized for its 125 years of care by Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland.
To commemorate its anniversary, St. Joseph will hold a community celebration event on Oct. 15.