$30 Million Rehabilitation Hospital Planned For Smithfield; 100 Jobs Expected

SMITHFIELD, N.C. – A healthcare company plans to invest approximately $30 million to build a new medical rehabilitation hospital in Smithfield, creating an estimated 100 jobs with an average annual salary of $80,000.

ClearSky Health, based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, has announced plans for a 36-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital at the southeast corner of Buffalo Road and M. Durwood Stephenson Parkway.

Construction of the 45,000-square-foot facility is expected to begin in April 2027, with the hospital scheduled to open in April 2028.

Andy Rosen, ClearSky Health’s Senior Vice President of Development, confirmed the project details in response to questions from JoCoReport.

The hospital is expected to treat more than 650 patients annually, providing specialized inpatient rehabilitation for individuals recovering from serious injuries and illnesses.

Unlike a traditional acute-care hospital, the facility will focus on helping patients recover and regain independence following medical treatment for conditions such as strokes, brain injuries, spinal injuries, hip fractures, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis and other complex medical conditions.

100 New Jobs Expected

ClearSky Health anticipates employing approximately 100 people at the Smithfield hospital, including physicians, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, respiratory therapists, dietitians, case managers and other healthcare professionals.

Rosen said the positions will offer a broad range of salaries, depending on the responsibilities and qualifications required.

“The average salary is approximately $80,000, but there is a wide range for all the types of positions in a hospital,” Rosen said.

The projected employment and salaries represent a substantial addition to the local healthcare workforce.

Why Smithfield Was Selected

The Smithfield facility will be ClearSky Health’s first hospital in North Carolina.

“This will be ClearSky Health’s first North Carolina hospital, though we have others in development,” Rosen said.

He explained that the company focuses on communities where patients need specialized inpatient rehabilitation services but must currently travel to larger cities to receive that level of care.

“It is challenging for individuals who have had a stroke or other serious disabling condition and their relatives to drive into large cities where most of these services are,” Rosen said.

The company believes Johnston County’s growing population creates a need for additional rehabilitation services closer to home.

Rosen said the goal is to serve patients who require intensive rehabilitation following hospitalization, allowing them to continue recovering without traveling outside their community.

Discussions With UNC Health Johnston

ClearSky Health has already met with representatives of UNC Health Johnston regarding the proposed hospital and the need for inpatient rehabilitation services in the county.

“We have met with UNC Health Johnston, who affirmed the need for the service in Johnston County,” Rosen said. “There are no inpatient rehabilitation services in Johnston County.”

The new facility would provide a different level of care from the acute medical and surgical services offered at UNC Health Johnston.

Rather than competing directly with those services, ClearSky Health intends for the rehabilitation hospital to complement existing healthcare providers by treating patients who need continued inpatient rehabilitation after their initial hospitalization.

“We will coordinate with other services such as outpatient and home health for patients who require those services on discharge,” Rosen said.

ClearSky Health CEO Michael Warrington said the company intends to work with healthcare providers and local businesses as the project moves forward.

“We will work closely with the medical and business communities to ensure the hospital complements existing acute care services and strengthens access to specialized rehabilitation in the area,” Warrington said.

“By providing patients with high-quality rehabilitation close to home, we can help them transition from acute care to the next stage of their recovery while remaining near their families and support systems. This proximity can make a meaningful difference as patients work to regain independence and quality of life.”

What The New Hospital Will Offer

The proposed hospital will feature 36 private patient rooms and a rehabilitation gym equipped with specialized equipment for individualized therapy sessions.

Other amenities will include a dining room with a dedicated chef and food service staff, an outdoor therapeutic courtyard and a specially designed space where patients can practice everyday activities in a setting similar to their homes.

These areas are intended to help patients regain the skills needed to return to independent living following a serious illness or injury.

Patients will receive treatment from an interdisciplinary team of medical professionals who will work together to develop rehabilitation plans tailored to each individual’s condition and recovery needs.

“Through specialized staff training and advanced technology and equipment, we will be able to provide patients with the individualized care and support they need to help obtain the best possible outcomes as they progress toward recovery and greater independence,” Warrington said.

ClearSky Health currently operates 15 medical rehabilitation hospitals in Arizona, Florida, Kansas, New Mexico, Ohio, Texas and Wisconsin, with additional hospitals under development.

The Smithfield project is part of the company’s continued expansion into communities where specialized inpatient rehabilitation services are limited or unavailable.

If construction proceeds according to schedule, the new Smithfield rehabilitation hospital will begin accepting patients in spring 2028.