The new owners of Tracy Convalescent and Rehabilitation Center say they aim to maintain the same top-rated level of patient care the facility has achieved while upgrading its physical condition.

The new owners, Aspen Skilled Care, a Southern California partnership, took over the 62-bed facility on West Beverly Place on Sunday, July 1.

David Delisle, who had operated what was originally called Tracy Convalescent Hospital for the past 17 years, has retired from the convalescent field and plans a new career in counseling.

Ryan Chase, one of three partners in Aspen Skilled Care, is serving as interim administrator of the Tracy facility before a permanent administrator is hired. He and his partners have been administrators of convalescent hospitals operated by larger firms before deciding three years ago to go into business themselves.

“We wanted to put our experience at work in operating our own company with an emphasis on quality patient care,” he said.

Aspen Skilled Health Care, with headquarters in Laguna Niguel, has five convalescent facilities: two in Los Gatos, and one each in Fresno, Westminster and Tracy.

Delisle said the new owners share the same operational philosophy he and his predecessor, George Ramirez, developed at Tracy Convalescent.

He noted that philosophy and hands-on management style resulted in Tracy Convalescent earning a five-star rating from Medicare, a level held by only 5 percent of convalescent facilities nationwide.

Case said he and his partners, while pleased with the level patient care, plan to improve the facilities at Tracy Convalescent. It was originally constructed in 1966 with 49 beds, and an additional 13 beds were added in 1982.

Full-scale remodeling of patient rooms and common areas are planned, and the gymnasium used for physical therapy will be re-equipped, Case reported.

Rehabilitation has become a larger part of the operation in recent years, Delisle noted.

“About 40 percent of patients are in some form of rehabilitation, including physical, occupational, speech and respiratory therapy,” he said. “More than 90 percent of new patients are shorter-term rehabilitation patients, in contrast to long-term patients.”

Although he has sold the business, Delisle, who holds a bachelor’s degree in Bible from Master’s College in Santa Clarita, plans to enter the field of Bible-based counseling. He and his wife, Tami, and two daughters lived in Tracy before moving to Ripon six years ago.