Big Changes to Alameda Health Care!

There are big changes coming to health care in Alameda! After a board vote on Monday, the Alameda Hospital District has voted to proceed with taking over the management of Waters Edge Skilled Nursing Facility at Park Street.

The official press release is below:

ALAMEDA, Calif., October 11, 2011 — Following the District Board Meeting held on October 10, 2011, the City of Alameda Health Care District announces the approval of a resolution that would allow Alameda Hospital to pursue the expansion of its current capacity to provide long term care to the community by subletting and operating the 120-bed Waters Edge Skilled Nursing Facility under the hospital’s license.  Waters Edge Skilled Nursing Facility is a 5-star facility (top ten percent in the country) in the federal government’s nursing home rating system, located at 2401 Blanding Avenue. 

As health care reform changes the health care landscape in our community and neighboring areas, the demand for high quality, post-acute care services will increase.  Many providers in the East Bay are exiting long term care, allowing an opportunity for Alameda Hospital to contract with other area providers to meet this need.  Since 1971, the Zimmerman family has successfully owned and operated Waters Edge Skilled Nursing Facility, a component of Alameda Elder Communities, providing high quality care to its residents.  Alameda Elder Communities has recently embarked on the development of a senior network and co-housing project, and with Alameda Hospital, is excited about this opportunity to enhance the continuum of care for Alameda’s growing senior population.  The Zimmerman Family will continue to own and operate Alameda Elder Communities’ two assisted living facilities, Waters Edge Lodge and Elders Inn, as well as Alameda Elder Services, a Medicare approved rehabilitation agency.

Alameda Hospital and the Zimmerman Family are committed to maintaining the long tradition of high quality care provided to the residents of Waters Edge Skilled Nursing Facility and have a unified vision for enhancing the continuum of care for seniors in Alameda.   This joint effort will provide an opportunity for Alameda Hospital to establish an ongoing relationship with Alameda Elder Communities as other senior services and projects develop.   Financially, this service expansion will provide Alameda Hospital an increase in revenue that will result in a positive bottom line for the District.

Special meetings will be held for Waters Edge Skilled Nursing Facility employees, residents and their families with Alameda Hospital management to discuss the transition and to answer any questions they may have.   Current employees of Waters Edge Skilled Nursing Facility have provided quality care for many years and will have the opportunity to continue to do so.  Alameda Hospital looks forward to working with the staff and health care providers who have cared for Waters Edge patients over the years.

A date will be announced in the near future regarding a public informational session regarding the transaction.

Alameda Hospital and the Zimmerman family are excited about this opportunity and are committed to continuing the tradition of high quality and compassionate care for seniors in Alameda.

The article in the Alameda Journal is here.