Valley Health announces plans for the repurposing of the former Warren Memorial Hospital campus

In a move to expand senior health services in Warren County and Front Royal, Valley Health is announcing the sale of the former Warren Memorial Hospital (WMH) and the 120-bed Lynn Care Center to Hill Valley Healthcare, a leading healthcare provider that specializes in skilled nursing, rehabilitation and long-term care, and owns and operates facilities throughout Virginia. Locally, Hill Valley operates facilities in Luray, Warrenton & Winchester.

The transaction is expected to close by January 31, 2022, after which the operation of the Lynn Care Center and the redevelopment of the former WMH campus will be under the leadership of Hill Valley Healthcare. The strategic realignment follows an extensive analysis, which identified a growing senior population and a need for comprehensive skilled nursing, rehabilitation and long-term care services in Front Royal and Warren County.

“When Valley Health opened our new hospital campus in June of this year, our goal was to repurpose the former campus in a manner that was consistent with our mission of serving our community by improving health,” said Mark Nantz, President and CEO of Valley Health. “Hill Valley is a leading skilled nursing, rehabilitation and long-term care provider in the state, with the skills and experience to develop programs to help address the healthcare needs of the growing senior population in the Warren County and Front Royal community. Equally important is Hill Valley’s “People First” philosophy and culture, which align closely with Valley Health and assures they will be actively engaged community partners. We are excited for the opportunities that this will create for families and seniors, and welcome Hill Valley to Front Royal.”

From 1950 to 2021, the former WMH, at 124,000 square feet, improved health and wellness throughout Warren County and the surrounding areas. The current Lynn Care Center facility, at 69,000 square feet, was built in 2002, although the center has served area seniors through long-term care since the late 1970s.

“We are thankful to the team at Valley Health for partnering with us through this process,” said Shimmy Idels, CO-CEO at Hill Valley Healthcare. “They were a pleasure to work with. We are committed to building on Valley Health’s mission and Lynn Care’s tradition of being leaders in post-acute care and serving the community as best we can.”

Valley Health is a nonprofit health system serving a population of more than 500,000 in the Northern Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, the Eastern Panhandle and Potomac Highlands of West Virginia, and western Maryland. As a healthcare provider, employer, and community partner, Valley Health is committed to improving the health of the region. The system includes six hospitals, more than 60 medical practices and Urgent Care centers, outpatient rehabilitation and fitness, medical transport, long-term care, and home health. www.valleyhealthlink.com

About Warren Memorial Hospital / Lynn Care Center Warren Memorial Hospital has partnered with the community since 1950 to improve health and wellness throughout Warren County and beyond. Lynn Care was established in the late 1960s as a 40-bed unit of WMH and was re-established for long-term care in the late 1970s. It currently serves seniors and those who require post-hospital rehabilitation, skilled nursing care, and long-term care.

Hill Valley Healthcare, is a skilled nursing consulting company rapidly positioning itself as a leading healthcare provider that applies its expertise and ingenuity to create 5-star facilities. Hill Valley currently employs almost 2,000 team members and operates a total of 20 facilities in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Nebraska & Rhode Island. The system includes assisted living, skilled nursing and rehab, on-site dialysis care and home health.