MISSION VIEJO, Calif., Jan. 5, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Ensign Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:ENSG), the parent company of the Ensign™ group of skilled nursing, rehabilitative care services, home health, home care, hospice care, assisted living and urgent care companies, announced today that it acquired Hospice of the South Plains located in Lubbock, Texas and serving patients throughout the South Plains area of Northwest Texas. The acquisition was effective December 31, 2015.
"We are pleased to announce this new addition to our hospice operations on the same date that we announced our acquisition of the Garrison Geriatric Education and Care Center, also in Lubbock," said Christopher Christensen, Ensign's President and Chief Executive Officer. "We continue view complementing our skilled nursing and assisted living operations across Texas with home health and hospice operations as a strategic priority, and Hospice of the South Plains fits neatly within that plan for growth," he added.
The agency will be held by Cornerstone Healthcare, Ensign's home health and hospice-based portfolio subsidiary. "We are excited to have the South Plains team join us, and are grateful for the outstanding foundation of quality care established there," said Daniel Walker, Cornerstone's President Chief Executive Officer. "We are committed to providing life-changing hospice services to our patients and their families," Walker continued, "and look forward to extending that commitment to the residents of the South Plains area." Mr. Walker affirmed that he expects the operations to be operationally accretive to earnings in 2015.
This purchase, along with Ensign's other acquisitions announced today, brings Ensign's growing portfolio to 140 facilities, eleven hospice agencies, thirteen home health agencies, two home care businesses and fifteen urgent care clinics across 12 states. Mr. Christensen reaffirmed that Ensign is actively seeking additional opportunities to acquire real estate or to lease both well-performing and struggling skilled nursing, assisted living and other healthcare related businesses across the United States.
About Ensign(TM)
The Ensign Group, Inc.'s independent operating subsidiaries provide a broad spectrum of skilled nursing and assisted living services, physical, occupational and speech therapies, home health and home care services, hospice services, urgent care services and other rehabilitative and healthcare services at 140 facilities, eleven hospice agencies, thirteen home health agencies, two home care businesses and fifteen urgent care clinics in California, Arizona, Texas, Washington, Utah, Idaho, Colorado, Nevada, Iowa, Nebraska, Oregon and Wisconsin. More information about Ensign is available at http://www.ensigngroup.net.