Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital broke ground earlier this month on a new 110-bed hospital campus in west Omaha.
Paul Dongilli Jr., Ph.D., FACHE, Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer, says Madonna will have two co-located hospitals, one acute rehab hospital and one long-term care hospital.
He says this will be one of the first rehab hospitals in the country designed and built specifically thinking of the needs of those with disabilities or limitations in their daily activities.
Dongilli says this is technology that does not currently exist in hospitals.
"It will have the capability form a technology standpoint to control the room environment: blinds opening and closing, lights turning on and off, temperature control, through various interfaces so through the wave of a hand or voice activated. Patients will have the ability to control the environment of the room.”
Dongilli says the $93 million project will also have an independence square which he says is a simulated community space for practicing life skills.
He says there will also be traditional living apartments for individuals and families to practice their skills to ensure success when they get home.
Additionally, the facility will have a dedicated 14-bed pediatric wing. The new building is expected to open in October 2016.