American Health Enterprises

        

        

        

        

AHE manages Winning Wheels, Inc. in Prophetstown, IL. Winning Wheels is a specialty long-term care facility delivering rehabilitative care to younger severely physically disabled adults. Winning Wheels has grown under the leadership of AHE and is now being recognized as providing one of the finest specialized rehabilitative programs in the State.

Under AHE’s direction, Winning Wheels established a Day Treatment Rehabilitation Program approved by the Illinois Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities which serves approximately 30 residents daily. Private funding was obtained for a computer vocational training program now being delivered in our Lyndon Progress Center in conjunction with Sauk Valley Community College. The program has recently expanded and has been accredited by the Department of Rehabilitation Services to provide both competitive and supported employment services. In 1990, a comprehensive child day care program, licensed by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, was developed as a benefit to all Winning Wheels employees. In 1991, AHE developed S.T.R.I.V.E., a 16-bed Intermediate Care Facility for Developmentally Disabled individuals. This facility is operated as a subsidiary of Winning Wheels, Inc. and, like Winning Wheels, is fully occupied.

Frontier Hollow, a 16-unit affordable housing apartment complex specially designed for disabled individuals was constructed in 1995. The use of the affordable housing tax credit program allowed us to provide independent living alternatives and services to former Winning Wheels and STRIVE residents.

In addition to the four Winning Wheels facilities, AHE currently owns and operates Big Meadows Nursing Home, a 98-bed Intermediate Care facility located in Savanna, Illinois. Big Meadows is currently the only certified Eden Alternative facility in Illinois, which recognizes the person-centered philosophy of “life worth living”. In late 1996, AHE purchased the former Whiteside County Nursing Home – Pleasant View. Pleasant View is currently integrating the Eden Alternative principles and has significantly increased their clinical programming to meet the changing needs of the individuals being served. Both of these facilities have excellent state survey records and are recognized as leaders in the region for innovative care, treatment, and programs in long-term care.

AHE purchased the former Savanna City Hospital and utilized the Illinois Housing Development Authority’s affordable housing tax credit program to convert the facility into an assisted living facility for senior citizens in the Carroll County area, Pinnacle Place. Coordination between various agencies has allowed low-income individuals residing at Pinnacle to avail themselves of homemaker services, meals, and other “assisted care” type services, which would typically not be financially feasible for low income residents.

AHE has also contracted with other area health care facilities for initial project development (including Certificate of Need preparation and facility design) and start-up operations management. AHE has participated in joint ventures with other respected health care consultants to provide diversified health care services. The firm has worked with Northern Illinois Human Services Consultants from Rockford to prepare a market survey analysis, strategic marketing plan, and provide financial consulting and clinical program development to Lee County Nursing Home in Dixon, Illinois.

AHE also collaborated with Health Systems Research, Inc. (affiliated with University of Illinois Chicago of Medicine at Rockford), to conduct a comprehensive Efficiency Study and Market Analysis of the operations of Stephenson County Nursing Home in Freeport, Illinois and McHenry County Nursing Home in Woodstock, Illinois.