Sept. 29, 2022 1:15p
(WGTD)---Froedtert South has fulfilled at least one promise it made when it announced earlier this month that it planned to close the emergency room at its downtown Kenosha hospital and move remaining inpatient services to Pleasant Prairie.
A growing company that specializes in offering rehabilitation services will fill part of the vacuum. ClearSky Health announced Thursday that it plans to occupy the top three floors of the Palmer tower and establish a 39-bed unit.
"By utilizing this existing space, we'll be more efficient in our development efforts and will be able to bring services quickly to the community by Spring 2023," said Darby Brockette, CEO of ClearSky Health. The company owns and operates five facilities in Texas, Louisiana and New Mexico, with 10 more in the planning stages, according to a news release.
The company caters to patients who are trying to get back on their feet following a variety of ailments, including COVID. The new facility will feature all private rooms, a rehabilitative gym with specialized equipment and a dining room for patients and visitors. The hospital expects to treat 650 patients annually.
Although ClearSky Kenosha will be located within Froedtert South, it will exist as a separate, accredited hospital, according to the release.
When the changes at Froedtert Kenosha Hospital were announced, Froedtert South President and CEO Ric Schmidt pledged to work toward the establishment of in-patient rehabilitation and mental health services at the downtown hospital.
An immediate promise was to turn the E-R into a 24/7 urgent care facility. That transition is expected to take place within days.
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