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Catholic hospitals in Missoula and Polson are part of a new health system that spans seven states.

In a joint news release from Seattle and Irvine, California, Providence Health & Services and St. Joseph Health announced they are merging to become Providence St. Joseph Health, a not-for-profit health and social services system with 50 hospitals and more than 100,000 employees in Alaska, California, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas and Washington.

An Associated Press report said the merger creates the nation's third-largest nonprofit health system.

In Montana, the merger affects Missoula-based Providence St. Patrick Hospital as well as Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Polson. The clinics operated by Providence Medical Group also are included.

Jeff Fee, the regional chief executive for Montana, was out of town and couldn’t be reached for comment Wednesday.

But Colleen Wadden, director of external communication for Providence St. Joseph Health, said no changes in staffing are planned.

Wadden said she didn’t know how costs to consumers might be affected but said the system is looking at how to more effectively deliver care. And she said one intent with the merger is to try to increase access to health services.