Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital plans Omaha hospital

Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Lincoln is planning to open a new $60 million hospital in west Omaha.

Madonna CEO Marsha Lommel announced plans for the new facility on Thursday.

Lommel said officials from the Nebraska Medical Center and Methodist hospitals in Omaha encouraged Madonna to consider building the new facility to improve rehabilitation care in the state's largest city.

The new 200,000-square-foot hospital will have 120 beds and employ about 800 people.

"Madonna has grown over the years and continues to expand our geographic reach. Last year, we admitted patients from 32 different states and 74 counties in Nebraska," said Paul Dongilli, chief operating officer.

Many of those are patients with brain, spinal chord, stroke or pulmonary conditions.

"We admit, on average, 20 to 30 patients a month come from Omaha here to Lincoln. We think we'll make it easier for those folks not to have to travel that distance in order to receive the specialized care we provide," Dongilli said.

Dongilli said with the new health care reform, hospitals will focus on trying to reduce patients being readmitted to the hospital for the same condition.

"The care that we provide will minimize that risk," Dongilli said.

As for the facility impacting Omaha's economy, Dongilli said it will have an economic impact of about $104 million.