Madison, Wis.-based UW Health, Madison, Wis.-based UnityPoint Health – Meriter Hospital and Lifepoint Rehabilitation — a Brentwood, Tenn.-based Lifepoint Health business unit — have expanded their partnership to develop and operate a second freestanding inpatient rehabilitation hospital in Fitchburg, Wis. The 58,000-square-foot facility will feature 40 all-private rooms and provide nursing, physical, occupational and speech pathology services for adults recovering from conditions including neurological disease, stroke, brain or spinal cord injury, and other illnesses or injuries, according to a Feb. 13 LifePoint Health news release. Daily facility operations will be run by Lifepoint Rehabilitation. The facility is expected to begin construction in 2025 with an anticipated opening in 2026, pending regulatory approval, the release said.

An integrated health system and academic medical center, UW Health is associated with the Madison-based University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. It comprises more than 24,000 employees, including 1,900 physicians across Wisconsin and Illinois.

Lifepoint Rehabilitation comprises more than 40 freestanding inpatient rehabilitation facilities and over 250 hospital-based rehabilitation units, medical, surgical and outpatient therapy settings.

This expansion marks a significant development in the healthcare landscape of Wisconsin. The collaboration between UW Health, UnityPoint Health – Meriter Hospital, and Lifepoint Rehabilitation aims to address the growing need for specialized rehabilitation services in the region. With a focus on providing comprehensive care for adults recovering from various neurological and physical conditions, the new freestanding inpatient rehabilitation hospital in Fitchburg, Wis. is poised to make a positive impact on the community.

The anticipated opening of the 58,000-square-foot facility in 2026 will mark a milestone in the journey to enhance healthcare services in the region. The partnership’s commitment to expanding access to high-quality rehabilitation care reflects a dedication to improving the overall well-being of individuals in Wisconsin.