Erika Doss|Laurinburg Exchange The Edwin Morgan Center, on Peden Street, is slated to cease operating as a skilled nursing facility late next year.

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Skilled nursing provider Century Care is expected to take over management of the Edwin Morgan Center this summer, officials confirmed this week.

Scotland Health Care System, which owns and operates the Morgan Center, is exploring a contract with Century Care to assume responsibility for the management of the center effective July 1.

System CEO Greg Wood said that in the interest of the health care system’s “long-term sustainability and viability,”maintaining the Morgan Center at its current standard may not be possible.

“The Edwin Morgan Center has a terrific reputation for the care we provide the residents, but we just don’t believe we will be generating the cash to keep the infrastructure current over the next few years,” Wood said.

Citing changes suffered by many health care systems throughout the country, Wood said that the system is being proactive in avoiding the fiscal burden of necessary updates to the center’s heating and cooling system, roof, and clinical equipment.

“The primary financial savings for us is the need not to invest cash in the future to keep the infrastructure current,” he said. “Everything’s quite adequate today, but that building is over 40 years old so it’s certainly going to need an infusion of cash over the next five to 10 years. It’s more about a long-term strategy than a short-term income savings.”

The Morgan Center’s staff and residents will be transferred to Century Care’s new Scottish Pines facility on John’s Road. Though Scottish Pines is slated to open this summer, the transfer will occur pending an expansion of that building in late 2014.

“They have a strong reputation for care and service, and we are committed to making sure the community still receives excellent nursing home care,” said Wood.

Wood added that the Morgan Center building will remain the property of Scotland Health Care System and, once vacated, will likely be used for administrative space or other needs that do not involve patient care.

The 50-bed facility was established in 1973 for patients in need of continued care as they transitioned out of Scotland Memorial Hospital. The Morgan Center currently provides rehabilitation services as well as skilled nursing care to short-term and long-term patients.