MISSION VIEJO, Calif., Jan. 03, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Ensign Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENSG), the parent company of the Ensign™ group of skilled nursing, rehabilitative care services, home health care, hospice care and assisted living companies, announced today that it acquired the real estate and operations of Bella Terra Cedar City, a skilled nursing facility with 120 skilled nursing beds located in Cedar City, Utah. The acquisition was effective January 1, 2019.

“We are thrilled to add Bella Terra to our group of Utah operations,” said Christopher Christensen, Ensign's President and Chief Executive Officer.  He added, “We have been eager to acquire an operation in Cedar City for many years and look forward to working to become the facility of choice in this growing market.”

"We have been very impressed with the team of caregivers at Bella Terra and we look forward to providing additional resources to support them as they strive to meet the needs of the local community," said Spencer Burton, President of Milestone Healthcare LLC, Ensign’s Utah-based portfolio subsidiary. He added that Bella Terra had an occupancy rate of approximately 50% at the time of acquisition.

This acquisition brings Ensign's growing portfolio to 189 skilled nursing operations, 24 of which also include assisted living operations, 56 assisted and independent living operations, 22 hospice agencies, 24 home health agencies and seven home care businesses across sixteen states.  Ensign owns the real estate at 73 of its 245 healthcare operations. 

Mr. Christensen reaffirmed that the organization is actively seeking opportunities to acquire real estate and to lease both well-performing and struggling skilled nursing, assisted living and other healthcare related businesses throughout the United States.

About Ensign(TM)

The Ensign Group, Inc.'s independent operating subsidiaries provide a broad spectrum of skilled nursing and assisted living services, physical, occupational and speech therapies, home health and hospice services and other rehabilitative and healthcare services at 245 healthcare facilities, 22 hospice agencies, 24 home health agencies and seven home care businesses in California, Arizona, Texas, Washington, Utah, Idaho, Colorado, Nevada, Iowa, Nebraska, Oregon, Wisconsin, Kansas, South Carolina, Oklahoma, and Wyoming. More information about Ensign is available at http://www.ensigngroup.net.

Contact Information

The Ensign Group, Inc., (949) 487-9500, ir@ensigngroup.net

SOURCE: The Ensign Group, Inc.

Source: The Ensign Group, Inc.