Sept. 12, 2019

The same storm that left the Avera Behavioral Health Center out of commission for months also left a big mark on a neighboring hospital under construction.

Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital started construction on the estimated $28 million project this summer at 4700 W. 69th St., just to the west of the behavioral health and Avera Heart Hospital buildings.

Crews were out cleaning up debris from the storm on the site this morning.

Alabama-based Encompass Health Corp. is building a 40-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital on the property.

It will provide comprehensive rehabilitative services to patients overcoming debilitating illnesses and injuries, including stroke and other neurological disorders, brain injury, spinal cord injury, amputation and complex orthopedic conditions.

It will include a large therapy gym, rehabilitation technologies, an activities-of-daily-living suite, dining room, in-house pharmacy and courtyard.

“Our team is still evaluating the impact of the tornado damage and is working on a plan to get the project back on track,” said Brad Kennedy, the regional president who oversees the new hospital.

“The specific impact of the tornado damage on the project schedule hasn’t been determined. We are very excited about providing care in this community and will be working diligently to have our hospital operating as soon as possible.”

When Encompass announced the project last year, the goal was to open in the summer of 2020.

Storm damage: Business updates following Sioux Falls tornadoes