Expanded home health service offerings for Nightingale Nursing clients in
Saskatoon

Bayshore Home Health purchases Saskatoon-based home health care company

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Oct. 26 /CNW/ - Bayshore Home Health announced today the purchase of Saskatoon-based home health care company Nightingale Nursing Group Inc. The acquisition expands Bayshore's presence in the province, complements its existing office in Regina, and provides an opportunity to service additional remote northern communities.

"This acquisition gives us the opportunity to expand Nightingale's service offerings in Saskatoon to include palliative and dementia care, infusion therapy and wound care," says Elissa Kraus Gamble, director of regional development for Bayshore Home Health in Western Canada . "For instance, our skin health and wound care program has the potential to deliver improved client outcomes as well as significant cost savings to the health care system."

"A strong Saskatchewan presence is a key part of Bayshore expansion strategy initiated in 2006," says Stuart Cottrelle, president of Bayshore Home Health. "We will continue to employ current staff and give employees the training and support they need to ensure that improved client outcomes are the result of this merger."

Bayshore Home Health brings a national infrastructure to the newly merged organization. Nightingale's customers will benefit from Bayshore's expansive expertise in home health care and its ability to reinvest in the business with support services that include clinical innovation, caregiver training and information technology critical to care delivery. The merged company will operate as Bayshore Home Health

"The acquisition is a wonderful opportunity for Nightingale," says Debby Criddle , the former CEO of Nightingale, who will lead the merged company as its area director. "Our new company will capitalize on the strengths of both organizations and bring together a wonderful group of caring and qualified health care professionals."

Nightingale was founded in 1979 as Saskatchewan's first independent group nursing practice. The company is known for its commitment to enhancing the quality of life of its clients and helping them to achieve optimal health. It offers a variety of services including home health care, occupational health and training, community health care and northern nursing.

About Bayshore Home Health

Bayshore Home Health has been enhancing the quality of life, dignity and independence of Canadians in their homes since 1966. Canadian owned and operated, it is the country's largest provider of home and community health care services, with more than 40 home care offices and 20 community care clinics. Its core services are in-home nursing, personal care and home support - which can be purchased directly by individuals and also accessed through government care programs, personal and group insurance plans and workplace safety insurance. Its caregivers deliver care to more than 57,000 clients annually. It also provides nurse/caregiver staffing services, health education programs and treatments in its dialysis centres. Its subsidiary, Bayshore Specialty Rx, offers infusion pharmacy, home and clinic infusion, and pharmaceutical support services to a variety of health care and pharmaceutical organizations.

For further information: Elissa Kraus Gamble, Director of Regional Development, Western Canada, Bayshore Home Health, [phone], [email protected], www.bayshore.ca