After 73 years of service, the West Texas Rehabilitation Center is entering a new chapter as they break ground on a new, larger facility in Abilene.
Officials and supporters gathered Thursday to celebrate the initiative, which will provide expanded outpatient physical rehabilitation and hospice care.
In a brief interview after the event, President and CEO Steve Martin said they’ve outgrown the original facility due to an increasing patient load.
“We were out of space,” Martin explained, “and “Going from an 80,000 square-foot space to a 133,000 square-foot facility, we will be able to hire additional staff, and expand all of our services, pediatric and adult. It’s a blessing, and it’s a blessing from this community.”
The $85 million building is fully funded by donations from the last three years. Martin between the facilities, located in Abilene, San Angelo and Ozona, Rehab helps about 850 patients a day.
Martin also noted Rehab currently treats patients from 27 counties in the surrounding area, providing care to patients from 157 different cities and towns last year.
Officials say it will take about two years to complete the new facility, located in south Abilene.
