For the Wausau Times

WAUSAU – A proposed rehabilitation hospital will create 125 jobs in the Wausau area.

“The city of Wausau is excited to welcome Pennsylvania-based Post Acute Medical, LLC as a new medical services provider complementing the robust, regional suite of health care specialties hosted in the community. Post Acute Medical, along with its development partner Astrea Development of Texas, plan to construct state-of -the-art, 42-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital on the west side of Wausau to serve northcentral Wisconsin,” a city press release said.

The 50,000 square-foot, two-story hospital represents a more than $25 million capital investment, and is expected to support 125 fulltime, skilled care medical jobs. Construction of the facility itself is expected to create approximately 160 construction jobs.

The hospital will feature a physician-led rehabilitation team focused on increasing patient strength and endurance and improving quality of life for patients who have experienced stroke, brain injury, neurological disease and deficits, amputations, pulmonary disease, orthopedic conditions, spinal cord injury, and medically complex conditions.

“The rehabilitation services offered through Post Acute Medical are intended to complement and help expand the surgical expertise already in the community by providing support in patient recovery,” the release added.

“Post Acute Medical is excited to bring comprehensive care for rehabilitation patients with complex conditions to the Wausau community,” says Anthony Misitano, chairman and CEO of Post Acute Medical, which provides post-acute health care services through more than 40 rehabilitation hospitals in 12 states. “Throughout all the communities we serve, we put the patient first and provide comprehensive, individualized treatment that fosters meaningful improvement and recovery for people with injuries, illnesses and disabilities.”

The city of Wausau community development department worked with Post Acute Medical and Astrea Development to assess the market potential for such a facility, as well as identify local resources for skilled nursing training and development.

“I am thrilled to welcome Post Acute Medical to the City of Wausau. The entire region will benefit from their quality patient care and the state-of -the-art hospital facilities developed by Astrea Development,” said Wausau Mayor Katie Rosenberg. “Wausau is already a leading medical services destination in the state of Wisconsin. The addition of this new rehabilitative hospital will complement and grow our local health care services, economy, and workforce.”

Astrea Development is still evaluating potential sites for the new rehabilitation hospital on the west side of Wausau. It plans to outline a more firm construction and operational timeline once it closes on the purchase of property.