The Ensign Group Acquires Emblem Hospice

Ensign Group

, the parent company of the Ensign™ group of skilled nursing, rehabilitative care services, hospice care, assisted living and urgent care companies, announced today that it has acquired Emblem Hospice, located in Mesa, Arizona, and Vesper Hospice, located in Pasadena, California, from Saint Jude Hospice, a well-regarded hospice operator headquartered in Iowa.   "We are pleased with the measured growth and development of our hospice operations thus far, and this lateral diversification broadens Ensign's service offerings within the continuum of care," said Christopher Christensen, Ensign's President and Chief Executive Officer. "More importantly," he added, "these acquisitions reflect the increasing depth of our long-term commitment to the vibrant Southern California and greater Phoenix healthcare communities where our existing skilled nursing and assisted living operations have been successfully serving for many years." Effective January 1, 2013, these two agencies will be operated by a subsidiary of Cornerstone Healthcare, Inc., Ensign's home health and hospice-based portfolio subsidiary. "We admire the great work done by the former owners and look forward to working together with an incredible team of caregivers to provide exceptional care to our patients and their families," said Daniel