Marquis Health Services in 2018 marked a milestone year with record growth involving the acquisition of five skilled nursing facilities, and a continued focus on the development of specialty programming and healthcare partnerships. A recognized leader in providing subacute rehabilitation and skilled nursing care, the organization today operates nearly 3,000 beds at 22 Mid-Atlantic and New England properties. 

“We are expanding strategically while remaining focused on our core philosophy – the delivery of superior-quality care and service to enable the very best outcome possible for each patient,” said Norman Rokeach, chief executive officer. “At all Marquis skilled nursing member facilities, we continue to take everything from clinical acuity to customer service to the next level.” 

According Rokeach, the Marquis portfolio has expanded by more than 60 percent over the past 36 months. With each new acquisition, the organization has launched programs to enhance the physical plant and expand medical programming based on the specific needs of the regional community.

Rokeach credits Marquis’ success in positioning its facilities as favored choices among families and referral sources to its relationships with leading hospitals and healthcare providers. “We work hand-in-hand with our health systems, understanding their metrics and aligning ourselves with their goals,” he noted. “It provides for better outcomes for our patients.”

For example, Marquis launched physician-led Cardio Pulmonary Care specializations at several facilities in 2018, including Providence Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center, a new portfolio addition in Yeadon, Pa. This programming provides a post-hospitalization option for cardio-pulmonary care and treatment, reducing the potential for hospital readmission. Program features include patient consults with board-certified cardiologists and pulmonologists, and a comprehensive range of on-site, full-time therapies and services.

Marquis also aligns its facilities with the communities they serve. Shortly after its purchase of Cedar View Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center in Methuen, Mass., Marquis created a Hispanic Community Program, in response to the cultural needs of area residents. Medical professionals and caregivers are bi-lingual, and residents enjoy authentic cuisine prepared in-house as well as special cultural and religious programming. “This program brings the comforts of home to our Spanish-speaking patients,” said Rokeach. “It also illustrates the type of consideration we place on quality of life for both subacute and long-term care residents.”

Staying at the Forefront of the Industry

Marquis also has invested significantly in technology, noted Dina Harman, the company’s vice president of clinical services. “We are highly data driven, which differentiates us,” she said. “Across our portfolio, we employ cutting-edge business intelligence tools for data mining. This enables us to provide feedback to our individual facilities – helping them to assess and improve care and services at all levels."

Marquis’ evolution also has responded to the ongoing transformation of the skilled nursing and healthcare industries. “We not only adapt as required to regulatory reform but embrace the changes to improve outcomes,” Harman added. “The result can be seen in our emphasis on employee resources, the recruitment of medical experts and enhanced services.”

Among its notable introductions in 2018, Marquis incorporated telemedicine services. “Patients at several of our facilities now have 24/7 virtual access to a network of experienced physicians,” said Jennifer Hertzog, Marquis Health Services vice president of marketing and business development, Mid-Atlantic region. “This high-tech offering complements residents’ regular bedside physician visits. By offering round-the-clock support, the service is intended to help treat patients in place and aid in reducing hospital transfers.”

Marquis also raised the bar on lifestyle, launching a newly branded, Guest Services program at its facilities. The initiative offers a range of concierge-style support and personal services, from assistance with errands, to connections for spiritual needs, to coordination of pet visits and family gatherings, to onsite barbers and beauticians. “Our Guest Services introduction reflects a new paradigm in which hospitality meets healthcare,” Hertzog said. “We have assembled a menu of amenities and support programs that typically might be found at a resort hotel or luxury apartment community.”

Today, 75 percent of the Marquis Health Services portfolio has received four- and five-star ratings for outstanding care. Rokeach credits this achievement to both the company’s progressive, forward-thinking approach and its deep roots in the skilled nursing industry; the family-owned organization has three generations of skilled nursing involvement. Based in Brick, N.J., the company is the healthcare affiliate of Tryko Partners, LLC. 

“As we look for new opportunities and new markets, we work hand-in-hand with Marquis Health Services operations to identify facilities and markets that complement our niche,” noted Tryko Partners’ Uri Kahanow, director of acquisitions. “This has enabled us to build on what Marquis has accomplished to date, and strategically target additional future growth.”