Nursing home to close
By Michael Johnson, Editor
A decision was made to begin the closure of the Sanford Health Underwood Continuing Care Center, formerly known as Medcenter One Prairieview Nursing Home on Tuesday. Public relations coordinator Kim Singer said that the decision was made based on severe staffing shortages and a declining need for long-term health care in the area. “We’re going to be closing no later than March 15,” she said. From now until that date, the staff will be working to find placement for those currently staying at the facility. In a statement by John Rieke, chief operating officer at Sanford Health in Bismarck, he noted that the decision took much time, careful study and consideration. “Since 1996, we have been a proud member of the Underwood community and making a decision like this is incredibly difficult,” Rieke said. “We are projecting that the hiring issues will continue to get worse, and the need for long-term care in the Underwood area will continue to decline. In the best interest of our residents, we are proactively taking this step to best care for them before patient safety becomes a concern in this environment.
