FirstHealth and Southeastern Health announce purchase of Pembroke Facility
| Date Posted: 11/15/2013
Lumberton, NC—Officials with Southeastern Health (SeHealth) announced today that the organization has reached an agreement with FirstHealth of the Carolinas to purchase the FirstHealth Center for Health & Fitness-Pembroke facility.
“While Southeastern Health has offered urgent care and outpatient services in the Pembroke area for many years, we are excited about this opportunity to expand our services in the Pembroke community,” said SeHealth President/CEO Joann Anderson. “What better way to grow our presence in the community than to provide fitness and rehabilitation services, both areas where better health is the ultimate goal.”
The 24,705-square-foot building, which was constructed on Third Street in Pembroke in 2000 by FirstHealth, offers fitness and rehabilitation services as well as medical office space. Details of the purchase amount, described by officials as a mutually agreed upon fair market price, includes the building, 10.05 acres of land and the equipment within the facility.
“It has been FirstHealth’s pleasure to serve the residents of Robeson County in our Pembroke facility for the past 13 years,” said John Caliri, director of FirstHealth Centers for Health & Fitness. “We have enjoyed being a part of the community and have every confidence that Southeastern Health will continue to provide great fitness services to current and future members.”
According to Caliri, FirstHealth will continue its operation, which includes five full-time and 12 part-time employees in fitness and rehabilitation, until the end of the year.
“It has been a privilege to provide rehabilitation services to our patients,” said Jill Botnick, director of outpatient regional rehabilitation services. “I thank the patients for allowing us to care for them and the employees for their service to the organization and the community.”
Employees will be offered severance options based on their length of time and position with the organization.
“Current FirstHealth Pembroke employees interested in employment with Southeastern Health will be invited to interview for positions which become available in the center” added Anderson.
The sale will become official December 31, 2013. Southeastern Health plans no interruption in the services available to fitness center members or rehabilitation patients. Enrollment fees will be waived for any FirstHealth Center for Health & Fitness-Pembroke fitness center members who convert their membership by December 30. FirstHealth fitness center members may call Southeastern Health’s Fitness Services business office at (910) 738-6490 for additional membership transition information.
