BUTLER TWP — Before the New Jersey company buying the Sunnyview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center can take the reins, it has a lot of work to do.

Bruce Peckman, a managing partner of Investment 360, already has met with union representatives, Sunnyview management and Butler Memorial Hospital.

Peckman said everything has to be in place before the closing date, which has not been set yet.

“You have to be on the ground running,” he said.

Peckman on Wednesday began negotiating a contract with the SEIU Healthcare, which represents 231 union workers at Sunnyview.

The current pact with workers expires at the end of 2014.

Peckman has received positive feedback from the 21 nonunion staff members.

“They’re thrilled at the fact we’re coming here,” he said. “A lot of them checked us out.”

Investment 360 also is talking with the hospital to ensure a smooth transition after Sunnyview ownership changes.

Ken DeFurio, president and chief executive officer for the Butler Health System, stated in an e-mail the hospital would continue its relationship with Sunnyview.

“We will continue to work with the new leadership to assure that our families and neighbors who are residents of Sunnyview receive a very high level of care,” DeFurio stated.

Along with the hospital’s doctors treating Sunnyview residents, its lab is used for testing when needed.

According to DeFurio, “Investment 360 is a very experienced long-term health care organization. We are confident that they will strive to operate Sunnyview in a high-quality, efficient way.”

The company is in the process of implementing new systems at the facility off Morton Avenue in Butler Township.

“I have a whole team in the nursing home,” Peckman said.

Sunnyview workers will be trained to use an electronic medical records system.

Peckman said the use of electronic records improves resident care and eliminates errors in interpreting a doctor’s handwriting.

“There is no issue anymore,” he said.

According to Peckman, crucial information about Sunnyview residents would be immediately accessible to workers.

He used the example of a notation indicating a resident needs assistance from two employees when moving.

“Falls drop down to a minimum,” Peckman said.

In other states, privatization of nursing homes takes longer due to different guidelines.

“It’s not a lot of lead time,” Peckman said about Pennsylvania regulations, which enable a sale to be finalized in two to three months.

Investment 360 also will institute a new purchasing system because Sunnyview’s vendors have contracts with the county.

“They have contracts we can’t use,” Peckman said.

As with the computer system, the phone system is tied to the county network and needs to be replaced.

Peckman said equipment needs also must be addressed.

While nothing has been finalized, building renovations might occur down the road.

“We’ve never gone into a facility without renovating it,” Peckman said.

The company owns 17 other health care facilities in six states: Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Connecticut and Minnesota.

Peckman said Sunnyview is the best county-owned nursing home he’s encountered.

“It makes my life easier,” he said.

Peckman said services will expand as well.

“We’re definitely considering increasing the rehab area,” he said.

Before the sale closing can occur, Investment 360 requires the state Department of Health’s approval of a nursing home license transfer.

County Commissioner Bill McCarrier, board chairman, expects the closing to happen by June 1.

“We’ll close whenever they’re ready,” McCarrier said.

While Investment 360 works to ensure Sunnyview operations aren’t disrupted by the change in ownership, the county has loose ends to tie up.

McCarrier said a water line to the building was fixed and a sewage line still needs to be repaired.

He said that repair won’t delay the closing because the county can do the work afterward.