Oakview Care Center to close its doors around March 31

Team working with families to relocate residents

Built in 1983, the Oakview Care Center in Durand will close its doors on or around March 31.

The care center was previously located in what is now the Pepin County Government Center. When built, the facility held 60 beds.

Approximately 15 years ago, two beds were cut, and approximately six years ago, the facility was reduced to 50 beds, said President and CEO Doug Peterson.

For several months, Peterson said the Board of Directors has been discussing the future of the nursing facility, and on December 18, made the decision to close the care center.

According to a press release from Chippewa Valley Hospital and Oakview Care Center, several months of thoughtful and detailed analysis led to the decision.

"This has been looked at many times over the years," Peterson said. "The hospital has been subsidizing the nursing home and losing money. We looked for sale or lease options, but no agreements were reached."

Peterson said the census recently dropped significantly.

"We were at about 95 percent occupancy until 2014," he said. "We had over 40 residents in March, but it dropped under 40 in July, and we saw as few as 32 over the summer."

The care center is attached to Chippewa Valley Hospital, and the hospital will remain open. There is currently no plan for the care center wing.

"We are going to get through this closing, and hopefully have something to share in the near future pertaining to the space," Peterson said. "This will make the hospital stronger."

With the hospital no longer subsidizing the skilled nursing facility, it will be better positioned to continue to deliver quality care and to expand programs and services over time.

According to the press release, "despite extensive exploration of other alternatives, the administration team concluded that the skilled nursing facility is no longer sustainable in today’s health care environment due to mounting and irreversible financial challenges, including a continued decline in reimbursement and resident census, and a decreased demand for skilled nursing care in a nursing home setting as other services and programs have become available in the state."

“Oakview Care Center and its staff have worked hard to serve the community for more than 30 years at its current location,” Peterson said. “Unfortunately, the realities of declining reimbursement and increasing cost of care have made it impossible for our small skilled nursing facility to continue operation. The health, well-being, and safety of residents remains our number one priority as we now move toward an organized closing process.”

Peterson said a resident relocation plan was submitted to the Division of Long Term Care December 19, and was approved earlier this month. Residents and their families were notified January 8.

Peterson said the social worker from Oakview Care Center will work with a relocation team consisting of a registered nurse from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Pepin County Aging and Disability Resource Center, and other representatives to be sure each resident receives the care they require. Thirty-five residents occupy the Oakview Care Center, as of last week.

"We will be open until the last resident is relocated," Peterson said. "Each resident and their family will have a relocation plan meeting."

Peterson said the State is involved to make sure relocation is done properly.

"I know some families are taking initiative, and close to a dozen have already visited the Plum City Care Center," he said. "We're scheduling meetings with all of the families and the team to evaluate all options to make sure we find the best place possible for the residents."

The three nearest nursing facilities are in Plum City, Pepin, and Mondovi.

“We are disappointed that this course of action is necessary, and regret the loss of jobs and services to our community," Peterson said. "We remain committed to providing high-quality, compassionate care through Chippewa Valley Hospital, where we are privileged to care for the patients and families of the Durand area and are grateful for the ongoing support of the community."

With the closing of the facility, approximately 50 positions will be lost. Employees will receive severance from the facility, as well as support in searching for new employment opportunities.

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