Covenant HealthCare & Wellspring Partnership to Enhance Skilled Nursing Care in the Community
Covenant HealthCare leadership has been actively evaluating the current skilled nursing operation at the Transitional Care Unit (TCU) within the Covenant Michigan campus and exploring ways to enhance skilled nursing care delivery in the future. After exploring several options, Covenant identified that a partnership between Covenant and Wellspring Lutheran Services offers the most extraordinary way to enhance skilled nursing care in our region. The Covenant Board approved the establishment of a joint venture between the two organizations at their November 2020 meeting. The Wellspring Board gave the go ahead at their meeting in October.
“We’re very excited about this partnership with Covenant as it represents a significant opportunity to impact quality of care for seniors throughout the Great Lakes Bay Region,” said David Gehm, President & CEO of Wellspring Lutheran Services. “Together, our two non-profits with deep roots in the region, bring together not only that demonstrated commitment, but also their respective expertise, resources, and dedicated staff that represents the best of both.”
Ed Bruff, President & CEO of Covenant HealthCare stated, “The Covenant mission is to provide extraordinary care for every generation, something we must live out. When choosing a partner, we took our time and thoroughly evaluated all options in order to do what is best for the patients we serve. After extensive review, we felt Wellspring was the best fit to support our mission.”
Wellspring is a recognized leader in skilled nursing care and has a growing statewide network. Covenant HealthCare has a long history of providing extraordinary skilled nursing care to patients in our community. Through this new partnership, the organizations expect to provide a higher level of skilled care in Saginaw and increase the number of patients served. Additionally, the partnership further strengthens the Lutheran tradition of both organizations.
As part of the agreement, the management of the service will transition to Wellspring on January 1, 2021. All therapy for skilled nursing patients will be conducted and managed by Mary Free Bed at Covenant.
The partnership will initially utilize the existing TCU space on the Covenant Michigan campus. However, plans call for the renovation of a new 39 bed facility at Wellspring’s Saginaw Senior Living campus located at Shattuck and Wieneke roads. The new facility design calls for large private rooms with full, private bathrooms for all patients. It is expected to open in late 2021.
About Wellspring Lutheran Services
Headquartered in Flint, Mich., Wellspring Lutheran Services is a statewide nonprofit committed to engaging people at every stage of life to help them experience and embrace their God-given potential. Wellspring helps change lives, build strong families and transform communities through these services: adoption resources, affordable housing, assisted living, behavioral health, family preservation, foster care, home care, hospice and grief support, independent living, memory support, parenting support, short-term rehabilitation, skilled nursing care and supportive housing for youths. More than 1,000 employees carry out our work statewide, impacting people in more than 50 of Michigan’s 83 counties. For more information, visit wellspringlutheran.com.