Ascension Saint Thomas and Lifepoint Rehabilitation, a business unit of Lifepoint Health, announced plans to build a new inpatient rehabilitation hospital on the Ascension Saint Thomas Clarksville Health Campus, pending state approval. The planned 40-bed facility marks the third joint venture rehabilitation hospital between the two organizations, continuing their commitment to expanding access to advanced rehabilitation and physical medicine services across Middle Tennessee and the surrounding communities.
“Integrating this specialized rehabilitation hospital into our comprehensive health campus, Ascension Saint Thomas is creating a seamless system of care for Clarksville, covering all stages of care, recovery and well-being,” said Fahad Tahir, president and CEO of Ascension Saint Thomas. “This facility will be designed to meet the growing healthcare needs of the region and deliver high-quality care that helps patients regain their independence after serious illness or injury.”
The new inpatient rehabilitation hospital will provide specialized care for adults recovering from debilitating conditions such as stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury, neurological disorders, orthopedic trauma, and other complex diagnoses. The facility will feature 40 private rooms and be staffed by interdisciplinary care teams, including rehabilitation physicians, nurses, physical and occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists.
The proposed hospital will also provide essential services for active-duty military personnel, veterans, and their families, many of whom live in or around nearby Fort Campbell, home to one of the nation’s largest military populations. The facility is being thoughtfully designed with these communities in mind, incorporating programs that support long-term recovery and reintegration following injury or illness.
Ascension Saint Thomas, which operates 18 hospitals and more than 320 care sites across Middle Tennessee, remains committed to addressing regional healthcare needs through strategic growth and collaboration.
“This proposed new inpatient rehabilitation hospital in Clarksville will build on our successful partnership with Ascension Saint Thomas and our shared commitment to expanding access to specialized rehabilitation services across the region,” said Russ Bailey, president of Lifepoint Rehabilitation. “We are honored to play a role in bringing this much-needed resource to the Clarksville community.”
To be located on the 96-acre Ascension Saint Thomas Clarksville Health Campus at the intersection of Highway 76 and Interstate 24, the future rehabilitation hospital will be a key component of the integrated development. The campus is being master-planned to provide a seamless continuum of care, anchored by a full-service hospital and supported by outpatient surgery, advanced imaging, and a range of specialty services.
Ascension Saint Thomas has a long-standing commitment to serving the Clarksville and Montgomery County community and has maintained a physical presence in the area since 2005, now operating 14 care sites across the county. In July, the organization obtained state approval for a full-service hospital, which will serve as the foundation of the larger, community-centered health campus.
What’s Next
The partners have initiated the regulatory process by submitting a Letter of Intent to apply for a Certificate of Need. The application will undergo formal review by the Tennessee Health Facilities Commission. Pending review and approval, the inpatient rehabilitation hospital is anticipated to open in 2028.
Additional updates on the campus master plan, development timeline, and services will be shared following regulatory milestones and planning progress.
About Lifepoint Rehabilitation
With more than 45 freestanding inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs), Lifepoint Rehabilitation is a partner of choice for many major hospital systems in the creation of joint venture operations that are industry-leading in clinical and financial outcomes. Through its IRFs and more than 250 hospital-based rehabilitation units, medical/surgical and outpatient therapy settings, Lifepoint Rehabilitation brings proven rehabilitation management and services expertise to help our patients recover and return home quickly from a number of conditions, including strokes, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, orthopedic injuries, neurological conditions, amputations and trauma. Lifepoint Rehabilitation is a business unit of Brentwood, Tennessee-based Lifepoint Health.
About Ascension Saint Thomas
Ascension Saint Thomas is a leading health care system with a 125-year history of providing care to the community, and is the only faith-based, nonprofit health system in Middle Tennessee. The system includes 18 hospitals and 320 sites of care across a 45-county area in Tennessee, including a network of affiliated joint ventures, medical practices, clinics and specialty facilities. Across the state, Ascension Saint Thomas and its partner organizations employ more than 13,000 dedicated associates who care for millions of patients each year. Ascension Saint Thomas is part of Ascension, one of the nation’s largest faith-based healthcare organizations committed to delivering compassionate, personalized care to all, with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable. Ascension includes approximately 134,000 associates, 35,000 affiliated providers and 140 hospitals, serving communities in 19 states and the District of Columbia. Visit ascension.org.
