Skilled nursing facilities and assisted living communities operator.
Acquired by Sun Capital Partners2017-04-06
Post-acute care facilities with rehabilitation and skilled nursing services
Staffing levels at Ensign's skilled nursing and assisted living facilities will be reduced, with more lower-skilled and lower-paid nursing assistants replacing registered nurses (RNs)
The quality of clinical care and rehabilitation services at Ensign's facilities will decline, with longer wait times for appointments, shorter visit durations, and reduced access to specialized therapies
Ensign will aggressively 'upcode' billing, seeking higher reimbursements from Medicare and Medicaid by exaggerating the acuity of residents' conditions
Ensign will seek to extract maximum profits by selling off its real estate assets through sale-leaseback arrangements, reducing its capital investments in facility maintenance and upgrades
Cosmetic changes and 'efficiency' announcements, potential leadership changes at Ensign
Staffing reductions begin, with fewer RNs and more nursing assistants in Ensign's facilities
Residents and families begin to notice declines in care quality, longer wait times, and reduced access to therapies
Major quality-of-care issues emerge, with potential department closures, care scandals, and resident complaints
Potential bankruptcy, facility closures, or sale of Ensign to another operator
Other companies that followed a similar path after PE acquisition
Closely monitor the quality of care and staffing levels at Ensign's facilities, and be prepared to advocate for your loved ones if you notice declines
Familiarize yourself with Ensign's historical quality metrics and be vigilant for any changes or negative trends
Consider alternative care options and be ready to transition your loved one to a different provider if Ensign's service quality deteriorates significantly
Community-focused healthcare
Integrated managed care consortium