Citing Declining Census, Low Reimbursement Rates and Reduced Hospital Referrals Due to Impact of COVID-19, Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids Make Difficult Decision to Close Licensed Skilled Nursing Facility
GRAND RAPIDS, MI April 28, 2020 . . . For nearly seven years, the Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids have owned and operated, with clinical and management partners, Marywood Health Center – a 49-bed skilled nursing facility located on the Sisters’ Marywood Campus. The Center provides clinical care and rehabilitation therapies for people recovering from illness or injury, stroke, or surgery.
Sister Sandra Delgado, Prioress for the Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids said, “This has been an extremely challenging time for Marywood Health Center. It was built and staffed for 49 residents but now the Center is caring for a very small number of individuals. This decline in residents cared for, plus low reimbursement rates and reduced hospital referrals make ongoing operations unsustainable. We are deeply saddened by this, but the growing financial difficulties mean that we simply cannot continue to accept and care for patients.”
Sister Sandra Delgado emphasized that although Marywood Health Center is no longer accepting new admissions, it will ensure an orderly, safe discharge of all remaining residents to their homes or, if needed, to another health care facility.
That same concern regarding the impact of the closing will also be extended to the employees working at the Health Center. Lucy McBride Poirier, Vice President—Operations West Michigan, Trinity Senior Services Management, which manages Marywood Health Center, stated, “As the facility winds down its operations, all efforts will be made to assist impacted colleagues. They will be offered outplacement services, including career counseling and job search assistance.”
In addition, Trinity will also provide an employment specialist who will offer information on existing job opportunities at other Trinity facilities locally and nationally, and help facilitate the application process. In the event these opportunities do not meet their needs, they will become eligible for unemployment benefits.
“While we are saddened at having to close Marywood Health Center,” said Debra Howell, Administrator of the Center, “we are gratified and take pride in our history of providing quality, compassionate health care to thousands of residents and their families over our seven-year history.”
Throughout the decades of service in West Michigan, the Dominican Sisters have continually evaluated their resources in light of their mission to serve others and the capacity of their membership and acted accordingly. The decision to close Marywood Health Center was made in this light and through deep prayer and thoughtful deliberation.
Since 2013, Marywood Health Center provided a full range of rehabilitation services to the West Michigan region. Patients came to the Health Center for holistic, restorative healing. The care that was provided focused on both the clinical and spiritual care that is needed for individuals recovering from illness or injury. That care was characterized by the friendly and compassionate staff members who provided a range of excellent services with top-notch outcomes for their patients and patients’ families.
The Marywood motherhouse is still operative as the home of the Dominican Sisters. The permanent closure of Marywood Health Center also does not affect the operations of Dominican Center conference and retreat center, bookstore or art gallery, all temporarily closed due to the pandemic crisis.
The Chapel of the Word in Marywood Health Center has been closed to the public due to the Stay Home, Stay Safe Order from the State of Michigan. When we are once again able to open Marywood Campus to the public, we will update visitors and participants in Sunday Assembly about worship locations. Follow updates online at grdominicans.org.
For more information about the Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids, or the closing of Marywood Health Center, please contact Mary McLoughlin at (616) 698-0748, mobile: (616) 340-3784, Mary.T.McLoughlin2015@gmail.com.
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The mission of the Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids is that of Jesus Christ. Formed by the Word of God, we dedicate our lives to the mission of proclaiming the reign of God.