St. Louis-based SSM Health plans to transfer ownership of three of its Wisconsin long-term care facilities to a for-profit eldercare system.
Pending regulatory approvals, Complete Care will assume ownership of SSM Health St. Clare Meadows — Baraboo, SSM Health St. Mary's Care Center — Madison, and SSM Health Christian Home & Rehabilitation Center — Waupun.
In a press release, SSM Health said that "as the nature of skilled nursing and long-term care continues to change, a thoughtful and deliberate process of evaluating multiple opportunities to continue advancing high-quality care for residents was undertaken."
Denise Gloede, president of continuing care at SSM Health, said in the release, "Ultimately, we determined that residents will be best served by an organization that specializes in providing skilled nursing services — with deep expertise, proven experience and dedicated resources to ensure the long-term viability and sustainability of these important care communities."
SSM Health said in a statement to Catholic Health World, "While Complete Care is a for-profit organization and will not be operating the care centers as Catholic facilities, SSM Health will maintain a close and collaborative relationship with Complete Care following the transition of ownership. Our care teams will work together to ensure continuity of care, and as part of the agreement, Complete Care will honor each resident's unique faith and spiritual care needs."
Complete Care has invited SSM Health staff to remain employed at the three eldercare campuses.
SSM Health will continue to own and operate its two other Wisconsin eldercare facilities, St. Francis Home Community in Fond du Lac and Villa Rosa in Mt. Calvary.
Complete Care provides short-term post-acute rehabilitation and long-term specialty care as well as skilled nursing at facilities in Wisconsin, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Complete Care has nine facilities in Wisconsin.