Lackawanna County's nursing home will be sold, according to commissioners.
Both commissioners and the head of the new company said Thursday workers don't need to worry about losing their jobs at the Lackawanna County Health Care Center after it is sold.
Soon representatives from Millennium Management, LLC will begin meeting with workers and patients at Lackawanna County Health Care Center in Blakely.
Word that the small, Miami-based company intends on buying the nursing home was made public at the Lackawanna County commissioners meeting.
"I'll be meeting with employees on all three shifts, I'll be meeting with residents, I'll be meeting with family members of the residents. We'll be reviewing operations. I'll be trying to gain an understanding of our employees and their needs," said Theresa Viscardis of Millennium Management.
She added the company's final offer to the county is $13.4 million. Commissioners said the extra money means some county employees facing layoffs may not loose their jobs.
"Our budget and our budget problems require infusion of capital. This is an area that we can infuse capital," said Commissioner Corey O'Brien.
In March, health care center employees gathered at a commissioners meeting, concerned over losing their jobs when they learned the county was selling. Officials on both sides of the table said that's not the case.
"All employees at Lackawanna County Health Center hopefully will remain in place. That is our desire. If someone chooses to leave it will be on their own accord, that is not our desire," Viscardis said.
She went on to say the sale will not affect how much patients pay for their care.
O'Brien said he hopes care will be better once the center is sold.
"The government shouldn't be in the health care business. There are health care companies across this country which manage these facilities and manage these facilities very well," O'Brien added.
For the next two months, negotiations will take place between the company and the county.
Commissioners anticipate the sale to be final sometime around the new year.
Both commissioners and the head of the new company said Thursday workers don't need to worry about losing their jobs at the Lackawanna County Health Care Center after it is sold.
Soon representatives from Millennium Management, LLC will begin meeting with workers and patients at Lackawanna County Health Care Center in Blakely.
Word that the small, Miami-based company intends on buying the nursing home was made public at the Lackawanna County commissioners meeting.
"I'll be meeting with employees on all three shifts, I'll be meeting with residents, I'll be meeting with family members of the residents. We'll be reviewing operations. I'll be trying to gain an understanding of our employees and their needs," said Theresa Viscardis of Millennium Management.
She added the company's final offer to the county is $13.4 million. Commissioners said the extra money means some county employees facing layoffs may not loose their jobs.
"Our budget and our budget problems require infusion of capital. This is an area that we can infuse capital," said Commissioner Corey O'Brien.
In March, health care center employees gathered at a commissioners meeting, concerned over losing their jobs when they learned the county was selling. Officials on both sides of the table said that's not the case.
"All employees at Lackawanna County Health Center hopefully will remain in place. That is our desire. If someone chooses to leave it will be on their own accord, that is not our desire," Viscardis said.
She went on to say the sale will not affect how much patients pay for their care.
O'Brien said he hopes care will be better once the center is sold.
"The government shouldn't be in the health care business. There are health care companies across this country which manage these facilities and manage these facilities very well," O'Brien added.
For the next two months, negotiations will take place between the company and the county.
Commissioners anticipate the sale to be final sometime around the new year.
