Employees at Aultman’s Skilled Nursing Facilities were notified Wednesday morning that the company will be ending operations at two skilled nursing facilities in Stark County.
The Transitional Care Center at Aultman Woodlawn and the Community Care Center at Aultman Alliance Community Hospital will be closing their doors, with the company citing the Covid-19 pandemic.
“This decision was not one we made easily,” said Linda Casey, chief operating officer of Aultman Post-Acute Services. “We will work with short and long-term residents to identify their needs and help them find another facility that will address those needs, as well as provide support and education as needed during the transition process.”
In a statement from Aultman, they cited the Covid-19 pandemic as a big reason for the closure.
Unfortunately, the skilled nursing industry was hit the hardest as a result of the pandemic.
Aultman also cited struggles to achieve adequate reimbursement from insurance providers and unsustainable losses as reasons for the closure.
Aultman does not anticipate any job loss, saying they’ll be offering all employees alternate roles within the organization.
“It’s a tough market for healthcare right now. We’re all competing to fill the same types of positions, particularly in nursing, and agency staffing to fill in the gaps is exceedingly expensive,” said Casey. “In addition, we’re facing increasing costs of care, and in many cases, health insurers that aren’t willing to adjust their reimbursement rates to reflect that, putting additional strain on hospitals and care facilities.”
Both locations have stopped taking new admissions, effective Feb. 1, 2023 as they prepare for the closure.