Winchester House Transition: Planning for the Future and Preserving Our Mission
For more information about Winchester House's healthcare and rehabilitation services, visit www.winchesterhouse.com.
About Us
Winchester House is a skilled nursing facility in Libertyville that is owned and operated by Lake County government. Winchester House has been providing long term health care for the residents of Lake County for more than 150 years. It opened in 1847 and is one of the oldest continuously operated health care centers in northern Illinois. Currently, Winchester House has more than 200 beds and provides 24 hour skilled nursing care, as well as intermediate care. Winchester House has a rehabilitation department that provides physical, occupational and speech therapy. It also provides dedicated care to residents with Alzheimer’s disease and memory illnesses. Winchester House is committed to providing compassionate and loving care.
Winchester House is partially funded by a property tax levy, (approved by voters in 1982), as well as reimbursements from Medicare and Medicaid, and private payments from residents.
Lake County Board Awards Winchester House Contract to Health Dimensions Group
At its October 11 meeting, the Lake County Board approved a contract with Health Dimensions Group (HDG) to take over the management and operations of Winchester House. Lake County will continue to maintain ownership and oversight of the facility.
In making its decision, county board members cited HDG's experience operating 22 skilled nursing facilities About four years ago, the Lake County Board approved moving forward with constructing a new facility. Plans are moving forward for the new Winchester House that will be located on the same campus as the existing facility. The County anticipates breaking ground on the new facility in early summer 2012, and the facility would likely open in late 2013.
Advisory Board Recommends Plan to Control Costs
The county board's decision to contract with HDG was based on a recommendation from the Winchester House Advisory Board, which consists of individuals with healthcare and financial expertise, and two members of the county board. Their extensive analysis showed that the current financial model was not sustainable due to cuts in Medicare and Medicaid, and a higher wage/benefit structure than the private market, resulting in Winchester House losing its position in the marketplace.
Therefore, the advisory board recommended transitioning to a county-owned, privately managed facility enabling Winchester House to operate more effectively in the marketplace, reduce costs, and preserve the mission.
Based on that recommendation, the County issued an invitation for bids from nursing home operators and two companies responded - HDG and Prism Healthcare. A panel reviewed HDG's quality of care surveys, performance records, financial records, and conducted announced and unannounced visits and interviews. The panel recommended HDG because of its broad experience operating 22 skilled nursing facilities in four states, and its experience acquiring and operating county skilled nursing facilities with a larger Medicaid population. (Five facilities were previously operated by counties.) The panel was also impressed with HDG's performance outcomes and high satisfaction ratings from residents and families.
Winchester House is Open!
We are continuing to provide high-quality nursing care at our current facility, as we move forward with plans to build a new facility. The Lake County Board will preserve the mission of Winchester House and provide a “safety net” for elderly residents now, and into the future.
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"This decision preserves the long-standing mission of Winchester House, which is to provide a safety-net for Lake County residents who need long-term nursing care," County Board Chairman David Stolman said. "HDG has a strong record of transitioning county owned facilities to privately managed facilities seamlessly, and retaining existing employees during that transition process."
- David Stolman, Lake County Chairman
"We are honored to have been selected for this opportunity We recognize that Winchester House is a special place for many people and we will work hard to maintain its long and distinguished history of care. We also look forward to a strong partnership with Lake County - one that ensures Winchester House remains a wonderful home for residents and workplace for the staff who care for them."
- Craig Abbott, CEO of Health Dimensions Group |
