CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The state of Tennessee has cleared the way for Lifepoint Rehabilitation to build a new inpatient rehabilitation hospital on the 96-acre Ascension Saint Thomas Clarksville Health Campus.
Ascension Saint Thomas and Lifepoint announced Wednesday that the Tennessee Health Facilities Commission has approved their certificate of need application.
The planned 40-bed facility will provide specialized care for adults recovering from debilitating and complex conditions such as stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury, neurological disorders, and orthopedic trauma, according to previous Clarksville Now reports.
“Today’s approval marks another significant step forward in bringing expanded, specialized care to Clarksville-Montgomery County,” Fahad Tahir, president and CEO of Ascension Saint Thomas, said Wednesday. “Integrating this new rehabilitation hospital into our comprehensive health campus will help patients across our region recover their strength and independence after serious illness or injury, and support all stages of care, recovery and well-being.”
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Ascension Saint Thomas is a Nashville faith-based, nonprofit hospital system. On July 23, it was granted state Certificate of Need approval to build a 44-bed hospital in Clarksville, expandable to 132 beds. The $148.5 million investment will create approximately 250 healthcare jobs. Construction should begin in 2026, and it’s expected to open in 2028.
What will be in the rehabilitation hospital?
The new, standalone Lifepoint inpatient rehabilitation hospital will feature 40 private rooms and be staffed by interdisciplinary care teams including rehabilitation physicians, nurses, physical and occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists. Plans include a dedicated acquired brain injury unit and multidisciplinary therapy spaces to support complex neurological and orthopedic recovery needs.
“This approval evidences the need for greater access to rehabilitation care in Middle Tennessee and represents an exciting next step in our ongoing partnership with Ascension Saint Thomas,” said Russ Bailey, president of Lifepoint Rehabilitation, in the release. “Together, we are expanding access to evidence-driven rehabilitation services that help patients rebuild their lives and return to the activities that matter most.”
Fourth addition to Ascension Saint Thomas campus
The 96-acre Ascension Saint Thomas Clarksville Health Campus at Highway 76 and Interstate 24 is being master-planned to provide a continuum of care, anchored by the full-service hospital and supported by outpatient surgery, advanced imaging, and a range of specialty services.
Beyond the main AST hospital, Lifepoint marks the fourth announced health care facility planning to call the campus home. Both Tennessee Oncology and Tennessee Orthopaedic Alliance have announced plans to build facilities there, and Montgomery County plans to build an EMS station.
Lifepoint Rehabilitation, a business unit of Brentwood, Tennessee-based Lifepoint Health, has more than 45 freestanding inpatient rehabilitation facilities.
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