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 had acquired Alarys Home Health, a Medicare and Medicaid certified home health agency located in Scottsdale, Arizona. The acquisition was effective January 1, 2015.
"We are pleased to expand our ability to provide the continuum of post-acute care needs in the Phoenix area," said Christopher Christensen, Ensign's President and Chief Executive Officer. "Increasing coordination, cooperation, and communication between these new home health operations and our existing skilled nursing, assisted living, and hospice operations will improve outcomes and reduce rehospitalization rates for the patients who entrust us with their care."
The Agency will be held by Cornerstone Healthcare, Inc., Ensign's home health and hospice operating company, and will be rebranded as "Emblem Home Health."
"This operation brings with it with a strong foundation of talented, committed caregivers and deep community relationships," said Daniel Walker, Cornerstone's President and Chief Executive Officer. "We are committed to providing life-changing home health services to our patients and their families," Walker continued, "and look forward to the Emblem Home Health team extending that commitment to the residents of the Phoenix 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 EnsignTM:
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.