“What we’re proposing to build is a free standing 36 bed rehabilitation hospital. Right now we have a 15 bed inpatient unit and this unit is often full, we often have to turn away patients.”

That was Carle Hospital’s Vice President of Clinical Operations Lynne Barnes discussing the need for the recently proposed Carle Rehabilitation Institute. According to Barnes, this unique 18 million dollar facility is needed by the community to better accomodate patients in need of rehabilitation.

“It’s a building and a hospital and a total employee base that’s totally focused on helping our patients to being independent. You know, to gain as much functional capacity as they can after suffering some type of physical disability.”

The facility is expected to include an indoor rehabilitation pool and an outdoor garden, and bring 60 to 70 new jobs to the area. If approved by the state the rehabilitation center will be built on the corner of Matis and Bloomington Road in Champaign.