Elder-Care Facilities Planned — Clinic, Nursing Home Proposed for Downtown

By Daniel Connolly

A company based in Parsons, Tenn., plans to build two health care facilities for the elderly in a Downtown property close to Mud Island.

A subsidiary of American Health Companies Inc. is asking Tennessee’s government for permission to build a 30-bed, $8.8 million psychiatric hospital for the elderly at a property near the intersection of North Second Street and North Seventh Street.

The state Health Services and Development Agency is scheduled to hear the request from the subsidiary firm, Behavioral Healthcare at Memphis Inc., at a future meeting.

Another firm affiliated with AHC received permission in June 2006 to build a 120-bed, $11 million nursing home on the same parcel to replace the older, smaller Court Manor nursing home nearby.

But construction on the new nursing home hasn’t started because of concerns about environmental damage and the stability of the soil, said Mark Davis, chief operating officer for Tennessee Health Care Management Inc., a firm affiliated with employee-owned AHC. He said the firm is making adjustments so the project can go forward.

Tennessee Health Care Management manages properties including 31 long-term care centers in Tennessee and one each in Alabama and Kentucky. Each of these properties is owned independently.

The experience of running these homes led the firm’s leaders toward the goal of creating a chain of psychiatric hospitals for the elderly, said Ryan Hargrove, head of hospital administration and development.

If the state board approves the geriatric psychiatry hospital in Memphis, the company plans to work with the University of Tennessee Health Science Center to teach the specialty to students.

Davis said he hopes Downtown revitalization efforts will mean that one day, the health facilities will be in a thriving neighborhood.

– Daniel Connolly: 529-5296

Originally published by Daniel Connolly daniel.connolly@commercialappeal.com .

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