Liberty Healthcare & Rehabilitative Services has moved closer to expanding its footprint in Brunswick County and purchasing the state license for Dosher Nursing Center.

The Dosher Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees voted this week to accept a proposal from Liberty to purchase the license for Dosher's 64-bed nursing center for nearly $1.3 million, according to a news release Wednesday. The board, after a 90-day review of its options, voted in December to sell the license rather than to continue to operate the nursing center itself.

The transaction still must gain the approval of state regulators.

“Ten firms responded to Dosher’s advertised request for proposals by a January 22, 2016 deadline, and three submitted formal bids to acquire the license. At its annual retreat, the Board of Trustees reviewed the offers and selected the one submitted by Liberty, as not only the highest, but the best bid,” Wednesday's release stated.

There were three considerations the Dosher board wanted to see from a buyer: that the new licensee would build a new facility large enough to house expanded physical and occupational therapy services; that the new facility would be located in or within five miles of Smithville Township – the nursing center’s current location; and that current nursing center employees would be given the opportunity to continue their service.

Liberty’s offer addressed those considerations, according to board chairwoman Sherri Marshall.
 
“The proposal by Liberty fulfilled our requirements to build a replacement nursing center in or within five miles of Smithville Township, accept all current residents regardless of payment method, and offer first consideration for staffing to current Dosher Nursing Center employees,” Marshall said in the release. “The bid by Liberty was the most comprehensive and complete. The trustees feel very comfortable with this decision.”

Since Liberty currently manages the nursing center for Dosher, a change of ownership will not cause major changes in procedures, Liberty spokeswoman Kim Kilday said Wednesday.

Dosher spokesman James Goss said the hospital describes Liberty Healthcare & Rehabilitative Services as its clinical partner in skilled nursing care. Kilday said that current nursing patients won’t see a change in center operations.

After the sale is approved, however, they will see familiar faces wearing Liberty-branded identification as the company adds skilled nursing to its existing businesses in Brunswick County: Liberty Homecare & Hospice and Liberty Medical Specialties.

“It’s a nice complement to the citizens of Brunswick County who need post-acute care,” Kilday said.

The next step, according to the release, is for Dosher and Liberty officials to develop a formal agreement to present to the Dosher board. That agreement will go to the state for approval of the license sale, Goss said, adding that Liberty will announce its plans for the new nursing facility at a later date.

Jim White, who chairs the Dosher board’s finance committee, said the agreement is a real benefit for the community.

“Area residents will get a new, state-of-the-art facility, close by, operated by a leading skilled nursing organization,” he said in the release. “This makes good business sense and allows Dosher to maintain focus on core hospital and clinic operations.”