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Fort Madison, IA – The Fort Madison Community Hospital is adding an outpatient rehabilitation center to the northeast corner of its complex along Highway 61. Spokeswoman Angie Budnik says the current center, inside the hospital, has outgrown its available space.
Hospital leaders have been planning this expansion for a few years.
Budnik says the new $5.4-million dollar center will feature a warm-water therapy pool and a walking track. She says the track will be open to the public.
"We really want to encourage our community members to come out and use it for fitness," says Budnik. "We have a lot of our community members come now (during the winter) and walk the halls of the hospital, so this will make it safer for them."
Construction got underway on April 1. Budnik says Fort Madison Community Hospital's new outpatient rehabilitation center should open 12 months later.
Budnik says the hospital is always looking for ways to expand and improve services, prompting this project.
The hospital also plans to remodel patient rooms to have a more "home-like" feel. Budnik says that will get underway this summer.