Ernest Health, Inc, Announces Plans to Build 40-Bed Rehabilitation Hospital in Spartanburg, South Carolina

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May 05, 2011, 03:34 ET

SPARTANBURG, S.C., May 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The ECONOMIC FUTURES GROUP announced today that Ernest Health, Inc. (EHI) plans to construct and operate a 40 bed freestanding rehabilitation hospital pending CON award from DHEC. The application filed in November of 2010 was deemed complete in February and published in the March 25th, State Register.

EHI will incorporate the project as Spartanburg Rehabilitation Institute. The hospital will treat patients recovering from strokes, brain and spinal cord injuries and other injuries and illnesses resulting in functional deficits. The state of the art facility will be the only freestanding comprehensive medical rehabilitation hospital in Spartanburg.

Ground breaking of the 50,100 square foot facility will be scheduled once the CON is approved. EHI has acquired a 6.25 acre site at North Grove Medical Park on Boiling Springs Highway. Over 100 new full-time healthcare related jobs with average salaries and benefits of over $50,000 will be created from this endeavor.

"We selected Spartanburg because of its vibrancy and overall demographics," said Darby Brockette, President/CEO of Ernest Health, Inc. "The present medical services provided by Spartanburg Regional Health System and Mary Black Health System will allow us to add additional support to the wonderful medical treatment already provided. We have enjoyed working with the local medical providers and city leaders on this project and look forward to serving the community."

Carter Smith, Executive Vice President, of Economic Futures Group said, "We have an enormous interest in new investment and job growth in the healthcare sector, and want to see it develop to the fullest extent of the demand. It is always gratifying to see new companies complement the existing providers of high quality care in our community."

EHI, an Albuquerque, NM based healthcare provider, owns and operates post-acute care facilities New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, Idaho, Arizona, Utah, Montana and South Carolina. Their rehabilitation hospitals, including Greenwood Regional Rehabilitation Hospital in Greenwood, SC, have been recognized in the Top 10% of 797 Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities in the United States. The hospitals were cited for care that is effective, efficient, timely and patient-centered based upon Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation's (UDSMR) Program Evaluation Model for 2010.