PAHCS, Good Sam merger takes effect

On Wednesday, May 1, the merger between the Paynesville Area Health Care System (PAHCS) and two Good Samaritan Society facilities will become official. PAHCS will acquire the Good Samaritan Care Center in Paynesville (renamed as Washburne Court) and the Hilltop Good Samaritan Center (renamed as Hilltop Care Center) in Watkins.

With the merger, PAHCS now has over 175 nursing home beds and over 400 employees.

As of April 1, PAHCS has provided pharmacy and laboratory services to both facilities. The Watkins Rehab Clinic has provided therapy services to the Hilltop Care Center since November 2000.

PAHCS has received a $3.2 million exception to the state moratorium on nursing home construction, to be used within the next two years to add a wing of private rooms and private baths to Koronis Manor, pending approval by the hospital board.

To get that exception, PAHCS will have to decertify up to a quarter of its 175 nursing home beds and transform at least one facility to another type of care.

A recent long-term-care marketing survey conducted by PAHCS indicated a need for assisted living and for a dementia unit.

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