ClearSky Health today broke ground for ClearSky Rehabilitation Hospital of Harker Heights, a new 30-bed medical rehabilitation hospital. The facility is expected to open Spring 2023 and will be located at 750 W. Central Texas Expressway in Harker Heights, Texas.

ClearSky Harker Heights will provide specialized rehabilitation services to about 650 patients annually who are living with disabling injuries or illnesses such as strokes, brain injuries, hip fractures, spinal injuries, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, or other medically-complex conditions such as COVID-19.

At the groundbreaking, Darby Brockette, CEO of ClearSky Health, shared that his grandfather often served smaller communities in Bell County as a minister years ago. “I still have family in this area, so it means a lot to me to come back to Harker Heights,” Brockette said. “With this new hospital, we’re going to help people get back home and get back to their lives.”

Brockette said the hospital staff will not only treat the patient, but educate the patient’s caregivers as well so when they return home, the caregivers will know what to do and how to help the patient.

“The hospital also will follow the patient after discharge,” Brockette added. “We want to keep patients home, healthy, and happy so they can return to what they enjoy doing.”

Spencer H. Smith, Mayor of Harker Heights, spoke after Brockette and welcomed ClearSky Health to the community.

“We look forward to deepening our relationship as we move forward,” Smith said. “We’re glad to welcome an organization the caliber of ClearSky Health to the community. ClearSky Health has depth and breadth of experience, and a proven track record in collaborating with communities to provide specialized rehabilitative care.”

Smith also said that the new hospital will allow patients and their families to remain closer to home while receiving care.

“This can help reduce emotional and financial stress — like that associated with traveling, taking time off of work, or staying overnight in another town – while a loved one receives care,” Smith said. “I think that’s a wonderful benefit for people who will have care for their loved ones available here in Harker Heights.”

The hospital will be 40,000 square feet and will feature all private rooms, a rehabilitative gym with specialized equipment, a dining room with a dedicated chef and food services staff to meet patients’ nutritional needs, and an activity of daily living space to allow patients to receive therapies in rooms that emulate home conditions. Services will be physician-led and will include physical, occupational, and speech therapy; rehabilitative nursing; case management; respiratory therapy; dietary services; and other specialized care.