The sale of Davie County’s home health agency is complete, as commissioners earlier this month approved selling it to Well Care Home Health for $1.85 million.

The sale is the best case for employees and clients, said County Manager Mike Ruffin. “My philosophy is, if the private sector is doing it, it’s time for government to step away.”

Well Care was top on the county’s list of buyers because of its reputation, Ruffin said. It is one of two five-star rated providers in the state. All 17 of the Davie employees have been offered jobs at no reduction in pay.

While the agency once made nice profits, it has been losing hundreds of thousands of dollars over the past few years. The county started the agency because the private sector wasn’t doing such services in the mid-80s; and now, with shorter hospital stays and more care needed at home, private agencies are clamoring for the business.

“We take pride in porviding care to our patients – taking the hospital to the home,” said Wanda Coley, Well Care COO. She called Davie County Home Health “very impressive.” “There are a lot of things you do well and we’re going to learn from the Davie County Home Health staff.”

“Our patients should see the same nurses, therapy and CNA staff that they’ve always seen,” said Suzanne Wright, director of the Davie County Health Department.