Dosher sells nursing home license

SOUTHPORT, NC (WWAY) — The Dosher Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees voted this week to sell its state nursing home license.

According to a news release, the board voted at its annual retreat Monday to sell the license for the Dosher Nursing Center to Liberty Healthcare & Rehabilitative Services for $1.28 million. Liberty was one of ten firms to submit a proposal earlier this year and one of three that submitted formal bids.

“The proposal by Liberty fulfilled our requirements to build a replacement nursing center in or within five miles of Smithville Township, accept all current residents regardless of payment method and offer first consideration for staffing to current Dosher Nursing Center employees,” Board Chair Sherri Marshall said in a statement. “The bid by Liberty was the most comprehensive and complete. The trustees feel very comfortable with this decision.”

The decision to sell the 64-bed license comes after a committee formed to gather input from stakeholders found that the best option for the Nursing Center and its residents would be to sell the license.

A hospital spokesman says although no decision has been made on what to do with the money from the sale, options include debt retirement, strategic capital projects and/or building cash reserves.

According to the news release, the next steps include a formal agreement between Dosher and Liberty and approval from state regulators before Liberty can announce plans for the new facility.