St. Alexius, Benedictine Health System Explore Collaboration
Posted on 3/13/2006
St. Alexius Medical Center and the Benedictine Health System (BHS) of Duluth, Minn., have signed an agreement to explore the feasibility of building a Catholic post acute care facility in Bismarck.
“For some time, we have been observing North Dakota’s changing demographics,” said Kevin Greff, BHS vice president, long term care operations. “The population is aging and shifting from the smaller communities to the larger population centers. As a result, we see a growing need for post acute care in the Bismarck area.”
According to the North Dakota Long Term Care Association, North Dakota has 69 long term care beds per 1,000 individuals age 65 and older. The national average is 52 beds per 1,000. In the Bismarck/Mandan area, the ratio is 47 beds per 1,000 individuals age 65 and older.
“Families have expressed concern regarding the difficulty of accessing nursing facility care in the Bismarck area,” said Shelly Peterson, North Dakota Long Term Care Association. “Area facilities are virtually full, and when you look at standards for measuring need, it seems evident this community is in need of additional nursing home beds.”
“In Burleigh County, the 85 plus age groups – those who may be in most need of care and services – are projected to grow by 39 percent in the next nine years. In Morton County, these age groups are projected to grow by 70 percent,” Peterson explained. “Given the current demand for services and the aging population, it is great to see St. Alexius and the Benedictine Health System collaborating to meet this need.”
“We are pleased to participate with the Benedictine Health System in a feasibility study about an issue that impacts our community,” says Andrew L. Wilson, St. Alexius President and Chief Executive Officer.
“BHS brings expertise in post acute care and proven models which can complement St. Alexius’ tradition of serving this community,” Greff added. “We are excited about the opportunity to work collaboratively with another Benedictine sponsored organization to fill this community’s needs.”
St. Alexius Medical Center is a 304-bed, full service, acute care medical center in Bismarck, with owned, operated and managed critical access hospitals in Garrison and Turtle Lake, N.D., and Mobridge, S.D., with affiliated clinics in Beulah, Garrison, Hazen and Washburn, N.D., and McLaughlin, Mobridge and Timberlake, S.D. Their sponsors are the Benedictine Sisters of the Annunciation Monastery in Bismarck.
BHS, based in Duluth, Minn. owns and/or manages 10 acute-care hospitals and more than 50 long-term care facilities of various types, including nursing homes, assisted living and independent senior housing options in nine states. BHS sponsors long term care facilities in Dickinson, Garrison, LaMoure, Ellendale and Wahpeton, N.D., and Sisseton, S.D. BHS is sponsored by the Benedictine Sisters of St. Scholastica Monastery in Duluth, Minn.