ClearSky Health today announced that it will build a new 30-bed medical rehabilitation hospital in Lecanto, Fla.

ClearSky Health Announces Plans to Open Its First Medical Rehabilitation Hospital in Florida

ClearSky Health is a premier rehabilitative healthcare provider that currently owns and operates hospitals in Texas, Louisiana, and New Mexico, with plans to open new facilities in Arizona, Kansas, and additional Texas locations. ClearSky Rehabilitation Hospital of Lecanto will be the organization’s first hospital located in Florida.

“With the ongoing support of Citrus County’s community and medical leadership, coupled with the area’s need for specialized rehabilitation, we selected Lecanto as our first Florida location,” says Darby Brockette, CEO of ClearSky Health, “Through the new facility, we’ll be able to provide patients a higher level of rehabilitative services within their own community.”

ClearSky Lecanto will provide specialized rehabilitative services to patients living with disabling injuries or illnesses such as strokes, brain injuries, hip fractures, spinal injuries, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, or other medically complex conditions such as COVID-19. It will treat about 650 patients annually.

“Our highly trained team, specialized equipment, dedicated facility, and integrative approach will set ClearSky Lecanto apart,” Brockette says. “Our staff will go above and beyond normal service expectations to provide patients with optimum outcomes for their recoveries.”

As a medical rehabilitation hospital, ClearSky Lecanto will differ from other rehabilitative settings as it is required to: 

• Be licensed and accredited
• Use an interdisciplinary team approach to care
• Have a physician with specialized training in rehabilitation supervise medical services
• Provide rehabilitative nursing 24/7
• Offer patients therapy for a minimum of 15 hours a week

A national study shows additional benefits of medical rehabilitation hospitals include allowing patients to return home sooner, remain home longer, have fewer hospital readmissions and ER visits, and live longer versus those treated at nursing homes or skilled nursing facilities.

“Citrus County is pleased to welcome ClearSky Health to our community,” says Veronica Kampschroer, Public Information Officer, Citrus County Board of County Commissioners. “It will truly be beneficial to provide our residents this higher level of rehabilitative care. In addition to providing 100 new job opportunities to the area, the hospital will help cut down on additional financial and emotional burdens that patients and their families can experience when they must travel for care.”

Patients who are treated at ClearSky Lecanto will interact and set individual goals with an interdisciplinary team that includes a physician; rehabilitation nurses; physical, occupational, and speech therapists; case managers; respiratory therapists; dietitians; and other healthcare professionals. The new 40,000-square-foot building will feature all private rooms, a rehabilitative gym with specialized equipment, a dining room with a dedicated chef and food service staff, and an activity of daily living space to allow patients to receive therapy in rooms that emulate home conditions. 

“Our expertise and knowledge allow us to provide the highest standards of care to patients,” Brockette says. He cites the hospital’s comprehensive stroke rehabilitation program as an example. The program includes review of 228 evidence-based recommendations from the American Stroke Association. Nursing and therapy personnel, who will be specifically educated in stroke rehabilitation techniques and modalities, will review every recommendation, and apply the ones that fit the individual needs of each patient. 

Another unique aspect of care that will be provided at the hospital is the continued involvement in a patient’s treatment. Members of the healthcare team will work with patients after discharge to ensure they receive needed resources to reach the highest levels of independence and success during their recoveries.

“Our goal is to help patients get home quickly with as much independence as possible so they can get back to their daily lives,” Brockette says.

Groundbreaking for the building is planned for Summer 2022, with an opening scheduled for Spring 2023.